The Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) has expressed deep concern over the growing unemployment among its members, revealing that more than 30,000 trained allied health professionals remain without jobs across the country.

Describing the situation as “worrying,” the council, however, expressed optimism that the government’s assurances could help address the backlog in the coming year.

The Allied Health Professions Council regulates a wide range of health professionals, including laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, dietitians, radiographers, and medical imaging technicians, among others.

Speaking to the media, on the sidelines of an induction ceremony, the Registrar of the Council, Dr Shirazu Issahaku, urged calm among unemployed graduates while outlining ongoing engagements with the ministry of finance and other key government agencies.

“The current government has assured us that by 2026, we will get a significant number of our people employed by the system,” Dr Issahaku said.

He encouraged unemployed practitioners to keep their professional licenses active and remain prepared for recruitment opportunities.

“I urge those who are home and not working to ensure that their PINs are active. They should register and renew them in readiness for possible employment next year,” he added.

The Registrar noted that the Council has been in talks with the Ministry of Finance to secure clearance for large-scale recruitment to ease the pressure on the health sector’s human resource base.Buy vitamins and supplements

The Technical Coordinating Director at the Ministry of Health, Dr Hafiz Adam, acknowledged the concerns and assured that processes are underway to provide clearance and address the backlog.

“We are gradually clearing the backlog and we are getting them onto the payroll. This is because some were engaged without going through the processes. Once you say you are engaging them without any clearance, you have not done anything. So, the over 700 people who were enrolled without clearance, we are getting them the clearance before the end of the year,” he added.