GMA introduces new prefixes for medical doctors and dental surgeons

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has mandated all medical doctors and dental surgeons to use the prefix Dr. (Med) and Dr. (Dent) respectively.

Dr. Frank Serebuor, President of the Association stated that the new policy will take effect in January 2024.

Speaking at the 65th annual general conference of the GMA in Takoradi, Dr Serebour said this is to eliminate fraudulent persons who parade themselves as medical doctors or dental surgeons.

“Ghana Medical Association resolves that effective January 2024, all medical doctors and dental surgeons will use the following designations as prefixes to their names: Medical Doctors: Dr. (Med),  Dental Surgeons: Dr. (Dent).

“All medical doctors and dental surgeons are to take steps to amend their titles, name tags, and practitioner stamps to reflect the new designations,” he said.

He continued that developments within and outside the health sector require that patient safety be protected.

Many individuals currently use the title doctor without any clear distinction. This makes it increasingly difficult for patients to identify who a medical doctor or dental surgeon is.

Dr Serebour added that many unscrupulous individuals keep taking advantage of this confusion to deceive patients and even harm them.

Addressing the media, he said, “The media does not help matters by failing to probe individuals they refer to as doctors without clarifying their true designations especially when they are engaged as resource persons on health matters”.