The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has officially announced new designations for Medical Doctors and Dentists in the country, effective January 1, 2024.
This decision was reached at the 65th Annual General Meeting held in Takoradi in November 2023, following extensive deliberations on various healthcare-related issues.
The new designations are as follows:
- Dr. (Med): For Medical Doctors
- Dr. (Dent): For Dentists/Dental Surgeons
Medical Doctors and Dentists holding additional academic titles are required to prefix these titles accordingly.
Those with a professorial rank appointment and/or a Ph.D. qualification may use designations such as Prof. Dr. (Med), Prof. Dr. Dr. (Med), Dr. Dr. (Med), Prof. Dr. (Dent), Prof. Dr. Dr. (Dent), or Dr. Dr. (Dent) based on their qualifications.
The GMA emphasizes that all practitioners in Ghana must update their name tags, practitioner stamps, and other relevant materials to reflect the new designations.
Furthermore, members are encouraged to wear their name tags consistently while on duty to facilitate clear and easy identification, prioritizing patient and public safety.
It is expected that Medical Doctors and Dentists will readily provide their designations when requested by patients or the public.
The GMA calls on the media and the general public to acknowledge and use these new designations when referring to Medical Doctors and Dentists in Ghana.