ABSTRACT
Emigration of health professionals in Ghana has been a serious challenge to all
successive governments and stakeholders in the health sector. In attempt to battle this
emigration canker, governments have introduced policies and measures including the
following; Additional Duty Hours Allowance (ADHA), Health Sector Salary Scheme
(HSSS), Deprived Area Incentives as well as Vehicle Ownership Scheme. In the year
2010, the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) was introduced to cushion all public
sector workers especially health professionals. However all these measures and
policies appear not to solve the problem for which it was introduced. The aim of this
study therefore is to examine how the introduction of the current wage dispensation
(SSSS) is impacting on the migration intentions of health professionals in Accra
metropolis. Data was gathered through the administration of 90 questionnaires,
involving 74 nurses and 16 doctors and in-depthinterviews conducted with 4 nurses, 3
doctors and 3 hospital administrators. Analysis of the sex composition of the health
professionals shows that a little over 74 % of the health professionals were females.
The ages of the health professionals ranged from 28 years to 65 years. In respect of
migration intentions, this study shows that 70 % had intended to migrate within the
next ten years. The result further shows that the United Kingdom, United States and
Canada are the preferred destinations of the health professionals. More than half (52.1
%) of the health professionals intend to emigrate within the next five years. Reasons
cited for migrating from the country included financial considerations and the desire
for higher learning or skills and to experience life abroadFinally, it was realized that
despite the fact that some health professionals are better off under the SSSS, most of
them however declared their intentions to migrate irrespective of the impact of the
single spine pay policy on their salaries. This therefore implies that, the SSSS is
insignificant to a large extent on the migration intentions of health professionals in the
Accra metropolis. It is therefore recommend that more health training institutions
should be built to absolve more doctors and nurses. Again a further increase in
salaries and allowances as well as better conditions of service should be ensured to
motivate them to stay and work in the country.
CDR, C (2021). Effects Of The Single Spine Salary Structure On Migration Intentions Of Health Professionals In The Accra Metropolis. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 15, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-the-single-spine-salary-structure-on-migration-intentions-of-health-professionals-in-the-accra-metropolis
Coalition, CDR. "Effects Of The Single Spine Salary Structure On Migration Intentions Of Health Professionals In The Accra Metropolis" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 05 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-the-single-spine-salary-structure-on-migration-intentions-of-health-professionals-in-the-accra-metropolis . Accessed 15 Apr. 2021.
Coalition, CDR. "Effects Of The Single Spine Salary Structure On Migration Intentions Of Health Professionals In The Accra Metropolis". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 05 Apr. 2021. Web. 15 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-the-single-spine-salary-structure-on-migration-intentions-of-health-professionals-in-the-accra-metropolis >.
Coalition, CDR. "Effects Of The Single Spine Salary Structure On Migration Intentions Of Health Professionals In The Accra Metropolis" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 15, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-the-single-spine-salary-structure-on-migration-intentions-of-health-professionals-in-the-accra-metropolis