Accra:Registrar of the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC), Professor Shirazu Issahaku, has advised newly qualified Allied Health Professionals to avoid engaging in activities beyond their professional scope. He emphasized the importance of upholding the standards of the profession during the induction and oath-swearing ceremony for new graduates held at the University of Ghana Cedi Conference Centre.
According to Ghana Web, the event was conducted under the theme 'Setting the Standard, Regulating Service, Safety and Excellence Across Universal Health Coverage.' Prof. Issahaku highlighted the critical role of laboratory results, medical imaging, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and dietetics in enhancing patient care. He announced that approximately 15,000 allied health professionals are being inducted in phases across Ghana.
Prof. Issahaku cautioned the inductees against viewing their careers solely as a means of earning money, stressing that their primary responsibility is to save lives. He advised them to use their initial year in the clinical environment to learn and prepare for their future careers rather than focusing on clinical service provision.
The Registrar further urged the graduates to maintain their training and professional standards, advising against compromising these for financial gains. He emphasized the importance of continuous study over financial considerations.
Guest speaker at the ceremony, Prof. Freda Dzifa Intiful, also encouraged the new professionals to adhere to high ethical standards and prioritize patient safety. She stressed that while qualifications and registration are important, a professional's conduct is what earns public trust. Prof. Intiful outlined key habits for the professionals, including verifying information, clear communication, and treating patients with dignity, emphasizing that patient safety must always be non-negotiable.