All medical doctors, dentists, and dental surgeons practising in Ghana will henceforth adopt new designations, using Dr. (Med) and Dr. (Dent) respectively.
The decision, which took effect from January 1, 2024 aims to enhance patients’ rights, patient safety, and overall healthcare quality, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has announced.
According to the GMA, the move will distinguish medical and dental “Dr” titles from academic “Dr” titles and the proliferation of honorary “Dr” titles that have become prevalent.
A press release dated January 3, 2024, and signed by GMA President Frank Serebour, said the decision was made during the 65th Annual General Meeting held in Takoradi in November 2023.
Medical doctors and dentists with additional academic titles are instructed to prefix those titles accordingly. For instance, those with a professorial rank appointment and/or a PhD qualification may be designated Prof. Dr. (Med), Prof. Dr. Dr. (Med), Dr. Dr. (Med), Prof. Dr. (Dent), Prof. Dr. Dr. (Dent), or Dr. Dr. (Dent), as appropriate.
Practising medical doctors and dentists/dental surgeons are required to update their name tags, practitioner stamps, and other relevant materials to reflect the change.
The release called on the media and the public to acknowledge the new designations and refer to medical doctors and dentists accordingly.
Read the statement below:
PRESS RELEASE
NEW DESIGNATION OF MEDICAL DOCTORS AND DENTISTS IN GHANA
Members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) at the 65th Annual General Meeting held in Takoradi in November 2023, having deliberated extensively on issues of patients’ rights, patient safety and quality healthcare among others, decided on new designations to be used by all Medical Doctors and Dentists in Ghana effective 1st January, 2024.
The designations are as follows:
Dr. (Med) for Medical Doctors
Dr. (Dent) for Dentists/Dental Surgeons
Medical Doctors and Dentists with additional academic titles will prefix these titles with their academic titles as appropriate. For example, Medical Doctors or Dentists with a professorial rank appointment and/or a PhD qualification may be designated Prof. Dr. (Med), Prof. Dr. Dr. (Med), Dr. Dr. (Med), Prof. Dr. (Dent), Prof. Dr. Dr. (Dent) or Dr. Dr. (Dent) as may apply.
All Medical Doctors and Dentists/Dental Surgeons practicing in Ghana are therefore to take note and change their name tags, practitioner stamps and other relevant materials to reflect the change.
Members are encouraged to wear their name tags at all times at work to ensure clear and easy identification in the interest of patient and public safety.
All Medical Doctors and Dentists should readily show their designations when asked by patients or the public.
We implore the media and the public to take note of the new designations and refer to Medical Doctors and Dentists as such.