Ghana Faces Critical Shortage of Urologists, Healthcare Access Threatened

Ghana is grappling with an acute shortage of urologists, a situation that places immense pressure on the few specialists available and undermines access to quality healthcare. Currently, the country has only 94 urologists, comprising 75 practicing specialists and 19 undergoing internships, a number insufficient to meet the needs of the population.

“

Currently, Ghana has only 94 urologists, made up of 75 practising specialists and 19 on internship.

This scarcity particularly affects men's reproductive health, with some health facilities reportedly having a single urologist managing over 150 patients. The Ghana Association of Urological Surgeons (GAUS) highlighted that many hospitals also lack essential microsurgical equipment required for specialized procedures. The association convened its 17th Annual General and Scientific Meeting in Sunyani, focusing on "Male factor infertility: Recent advances," to discuss challenges and strategies for improving urological care.

“

some health facilities had only one urologist attending to more than 150 patients.

Professor Kwaku Addae Ntim Appiah, President of GAUS, stressed the capital-intensive nature of training urologists and appealed for support from institutions and non-governmental organizations to build capacity in this field. He emphasized that male infertility warrants the same level of attention and scientific focus as other health conditions within Ghana's healthcare system. Prof. Ntim Appiah also called for intensified public education to encourage men to seek early medical attention and advocated for improved access to specialized healthcare services.

“

many hospitals also lacked the microsurgical equipment needed to perform specialised procedures.

Addressing the root causes, Prof. Ntim Appiah noted that environmental factors such as pesticides, agrochemicals, heavy metals, air pollution, and plastics contribute significantly to male infertility, which accounts for approximately 58% of infertility cases in Ghana. He urged men to undergo early screening, adopt healthier lifestyles, and seek prompt treatment, comparing the importance of semen analysis and regular urological check-ups to blood pressure monitoring. The Bono Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Abdulai Abubakhar, identified gaps in care quality, limited access to diagnostic services, and inadequate infrastructure as major challenges, calling for the establishment of urological centers in underserved regions and more training opportunities.

“

training urologists was capital-intensive and called on relevant institutions and non-governmental organisations to support efforts to build capacity in the field.