Ghana Partners US In Medical Exercise
By Juliet Buntuguh & Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
The United States and the Ghana Armed Forces have launched a ten-day medical assistance training exercise for military medical personnel in Accra.
The exercise, which is being facilitated by the Medical Field Logistics Assistance Group (MEDFLAG), is aimed at promoting interoperability in addition to increasing medical capacity in the Ghanaian army.
At the opening ceremony, the leader of the US team, Lt. Col. Boyd explained that MEDFLAG creates a platform for the two armies to build and expand their medical capabilities, as well as foster mutually-beneficial relationships.
He stressed that the exercise was also to build and expand the deplorable medical capability of the Ghana Armed Forces as well as enhance the readiness of both countries’ medical personnel through a variety of disciplines including classroom instructions, three humanitarian civil assistance events in local areas, and a scenario demonstration.
Lt. Col Boyd noted that the annual bilateral exercise will facilitate the exchange of medical information and techniques within the two armies.
“We are going to learn how to exchange and use information,” he added.
He expressed hope that both armies will leave the exercise stronger and more experienced than before as they provide medical, dental and veterinary services to civilians.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. P. A Blay, stated at the ceremony that, apart from the numerous benefits the exercise will bring, “more importantly, it will foster the community relations of the Ghana Armed Forces through the humanitarian civil assistance.”
He therefore asked participants to put all their energies and time into the exercise as this would not only benefit them but also help extend support to less privileged civilians who avail themselves for the Humanitarian Assistance Programme.
“We expect each and every participant to have learned enough to improve his or her field of expertise after the exercise,” Lt Gen. Blay said in conclusion.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
University of Ghana Breaks New Grounds
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri and Michael Ciaglo
The University of Ghana has launched a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in economics for post-graduate students.
It also cut the sod for the construction of a building for the Department of Economics, funded by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, said the initiative to start the PhD programme forms part of the university’s plan to enhance the department of economics in the coming years.
The programme, designed to accommodate 20 of the current 70 M Phil students, has the possibility to elevate the department.
Mr. Aryeetey stated that with the support of the economics department “we will take our first batch of 20 students studying for their PhD in economics and pair them with lecturers from Connell, Yale, Ellisdon and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) next year.”
He expressed the hope that the PhD programme will “create an enabling intellectual environment for training and research and will eventually elevate the department to the status of a School of Economics.”
Mr. Aryeetey highlighted plans for the programme during the launch of the sod cutting ceremony.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, noted that the PhD programme is “consistent with the Bank of Ghana’s corporate social responsibility, hence its decision to provide a grant of US$2,000,000 for completion of Phase 1 of the project.”
He said the increase in the number of students is affecting the facilities, adding that conditions are definitely not congenial for academic work.
Mr. Amissah-Arthur said with the increase in the number of students from about 400 in 1990 to 20, 000 in recent years, students have to pack themselves in the lecture block with some standing outside to listen to lectures.
However, he noted that in spite of the challenges confronting the department, it continues to contribute towards the training of economists.
He was optimistic that the project will be completed within budget and on time to “enable us meet next year to commission the building.”
Dr. Fritz A. Gockel, Head of the Department of Economics, said the new building will consist of an 890-seat main auditorium, 12 seminar rooms, a computer room and library that will allow the school to grow.
Though the department is still looking for more investors to complete the project, phase one is slated to be completed by July 2012.
Caption: from left: Alfred Langdon, project architect, Prof. Kwesi Yankeh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, vice chancellor and Dr. Fritz Gockel, head of the Department of Economics look over the model of the new Economics Annex.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri and Michael Ciaglo
The University of Ghana has launched a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme in economics for post-graduate students.
It also cut the sod for the construction of a building for the Department of Economics, funded by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, said the initiative to start the PhD programme forms part of the university’s plan to enhance the department of economics in the coming years.
The programme, designed to accommodate 20 of the current 70 M Phil students, has the possibility to elevate the department.
Mr. Aryeetey stated that with the support of the economics department “we will take our first batch of 20 students studying for their PhD in economics and pair them with lecturers from Connell, Yale, Ellisdon and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) next year.”
He expressed the hope that the PhD programme will “create an enabling intellectual environment for training and research and will eventually elevate the department to the status of a School of Economics.”
Mr. Aryeetey highlighted plans for the programme during the launch of the sod cutting ceremony.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, noted that the PhD programme is “consistent with the Bank of Ghana’s corporate social responsibility, hence its decision to provide a grant of US$2,000,000 for completion of Phase 1 of the project.”
He said the increase in the number of students is affecting the facilities, adding that conditions are definitely not congenial for academic work.
Mr. Amissah-Arthur said with the increase in the number of students from about 400 in 1990 to 20, 000 in recent years, students have to pack themselves in the lecture block with some standing outside to listen to lectures.
However, he noted that in spite of the challenges confronting the department, it continues to contribute towards the training of economists.
He was optimistic that the project will be completed within budget and on time to “enable us meet next year to commission the building.”
Dr. Fritz A. Gockel, Head of the Department of Economics, said the new building will consist of an 890-seat main auditorium, 12 seminar rooms, a computer room and library that will allow the school to grow.
Though the department is still looking for more investors to complete the project, phase one is slated to be completed by July 2012.
Caption: from left: Alfred Langdon, project architect, Prof. Kwesi Yankeh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, vice chancellor and Dr. Fritz Gockel, head of the Department of Economics look over the model of the new Economics Annex.
Minister Outdoors Committees
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri and Michael Ciaglo
THE MINISTER of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, has inaugurated the allied health committee and the health awards planning committee as part of the ministry’s efforts to provide quality health services to Ghanaians.
Swearing in the nine-member allied health taskforce, the minister observed that with the increasing number of health related facilities in the country, there is a need to have a statutory body to regulate their operations in order to safeguard the health of the citizens.
He said unlike doctors, nurses, pharmacists and midwives whose work is regulated by an established authority, there is a large group of health professionals who fall under the umbrella of an allied health group.
This group’s work is not regulated because there is no established authority to monitor their work, hence the inauguration of the taskforce.
“Language and speech pathologists, paramedics, clinical psychologists, dieticians, cardiovascular technologists, radiologists, optometrists and medical assistants are all not under any authority so their work is not monitored,” Mr. Yieleh Chireh said.
He pledged his ministry’s support to the taskforce as outlined in their duties which are to “regulate the scope of practice for these professions, regulate the standard of professionals whose work has direct contact with the populace, ensure sustained standard of studies in institutions and monitor, inspect and facilitate continuous improvement in the [health] sector.”
In addition, he assured the taskforce that the ministry would “advise the ministry of health, conduct licensing examinations for those who have not had professional training, as well as help with the implementation of the allied health bill when it becomes a law.”
He indicated that this taskforce “will reduce the work of quacks and charlatans who pose as professionals and through their shabby work, reduce the good image of medical professionals.”
At the inauguration, the sector minister also established the health awards committee and urged the members to recognize the best medical professionals at institutional and agency levels to improve overall performance in the health sector.
This, he stated, will encourage the continuation of the good work some health workers are already practicing across the country.
“The time has come for us to change the trend and show practical appreciation for the efforts of health workers for their contributions to improve the health status of the people in Ghana,” he added.
The committee is also mandated to come up with guidelines to sustain the celebration of health professionals and make the selection processes fair across all medical professions.
In their acceptance speeches, the chairmen of the two committees, Dr. Samuel Opoku of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana, and Dr. Sylvester Amemana of the Ghana Health Services both expressed a deep sense of appreciation for the creation of the two committees and vowed to deliver on their duties.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri and Michael Ciaglo
THE MINISTER of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, has inaugurated the allied health committee and the health awards planning committee as part of the ministry’s efforts to provide quality health services to Ghanaians.
Swearing in the nine-member allied health taskforce, the minister observed that with the increasing number of health related facilities in the country, there is a need to have a statutory body to regulate their operations in order to safeguard the health of the citizens.
He said unlike doctors, nurses, pharmacists and midwives whose work is regulated by an established authority, there is a large group of health professionals who fall under the umbrella of an allied health group.
This group’s work is not regulated because there is no established authority to monitor their work, hence the inauguration of the taskforce.
“Language and speech pathologists, paramedics, clinical psychologists, dieticians, cardiovascular technologists, radiologists, optometrists and medical assistants are all not under any authority so their work is not monitored,” Mr. Yieleh Chireh said.
He pledged his ministry’s support to the taskforce as outlined in their duties which are to “regulate the scope of practice for these professions, regulate the standard of professionals whose work has direct contact with the populace, ensure sustained standard of studies in institutions and monitor, inspect and facilitate continuous improvement in the [health] sector.”
In addition, he assured the taskforce that the ministry would “advise the ministry of health, conduct licensing examinations for those who have not had professional training, as well as help with the implementation of the allied health bill when it becomes a law.”
He indicated that this taskforce “will reduce the work of quacks and charlatans who pose as professionals and through their shabby work, reduce the good image of medical professionals.”
At the inauguration, the sector minister also established the health awards committee and urged the members to recognize the best medical professionals at institutional and agency levels to improve overall performance in the health sector.
This, he stated, will encourage the continuation of the good work some health workers are already practicing across the country.
“The time has come for us to change the trend and show practical appreciation for the efforts of health workers for their contributions to improve the health status of the people in Ghana,” he added.
The committee is also mandated to come up with guidelines to sustain the celebration of health professionals and make the selection processes fair across all medical professions.
In their acceptance speeches, the chairmen of the two committees, Dr. Samuel Opoku of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Ghana, and Dr. Sylvester Amemana of the Ghana Health Services both expressed a deep sense of appreciation for the creation of the two committees and vowed to deliver on their duties.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
China Medical Team Supports Korle-Bu
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
MEMBERS OF a Chinese medical team undertaking a clinical exchange programme at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) have donated some medical equipment to the hospital.
The items worth $134,166 include a testing machine, monitors, spina and general surgery instrument, foreign body forceps, nephroscope, syringe, infusion and medical injection pumps and a pneumatic stock type.
Professor Wei Jian Rui, a cardiologist and the team’s leader, said the donation was meant to meet the medical requirements for treatment of patients at the hospital.
He added that through their work at the hospital, the team identified the lack of certain instruments hence the donation by the Chinese government.
He therefore urged the KBTH Neurological Department to transfer and install the equipments as quickly as possible saying “I know there are people waiting for their cases to be treated.”
Chinese Counselor to Ghana, Gao Wenzhi, who presented the items on behalf of the team, noted that without good health, people will not be strong and contribute to the prosperity of the nation.
He also observed that at the recent Beijing Summit, the Chinese government as part of its support, dispatched groups of medical teams to Africa and that Ghana is one of the beneficiary countries.
“The team consists of medical experts of high medical qualifications who have worked together with other doctors in Korle-Bu for a year and a half.”
He therefore hoped that the instruments will strengthen the medical capabilities of the hospital as health care improves.
“I hope that KBTH will play bigger roles in medical services for patients not only in Ghana but also in West Africa,” he added.
The Board Chairman of KBTH, Professor Seth Aryeetey, on behalf of the government, thanked the team for their donation.
He said Ghana’s relationship with China had grown into a fruitful one elaborating that the benefits to be derived from the donation was worth more than the money spent on it.
“It is going to translate into helping the men, women and children who will be treated so that they can become strong and productive citizens of Ghana,” he noted.
The Chief Executive Officer of KBTH, Professor Nii Otu Nartey who was touched by the presentation, expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for the donation.
He said, “They have took notice of our plight and challenges and have brought these things. This is going to improve significantly on the kind of work we do here.”
He charged others to emulate the example of the Chinese medical team adding, “If other groups follow, then we can significantly solve the problems of KBTH.”
Professor Wei Jian Rui (first right) and Gao Wenzhi (second right) presenting the equipment to Professors Seth Aryeetey (second left) and Nii Otu Nartey (first left).
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
MEMBERS OF a Chinese medical team undertaking a clinical exchange programme at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) have donated some medical equipment to the hospital.
The items worth $134,166 include a testing machine, monitors, spina and general surgery instrument, foreign body forceps, nephroscope, syringe, infusion and medical injection pumps and a pneumatic stock type.
Professor Wei Jian Rui, a cardiologist and the team’s leader, said the donation was meant to meet the medical requirements for treatment of patients at the hospital.
He added that through their work at the hospital, the team identified the lack of certain instruments hence the donation by the Chinese government.
He therefore urged the KBTH Neurological Department to transfer and install the equipments as quickly as possible saying “I know there are people waiting for their cases to be treated.”
Chinese Counselor to Ghana, Gao Wenzhi, who presented the items on behalf of the team, noted that without good health, people will not be strong and contribute to the prosperity of the nation.
He also observed that at the recent Beijing Summit, the Chinese government as part of its support, dispatched groups of medical teams to Africa and that Ghana is one of the beneficiary countries.
“The team consists of medical experts of high medical qualifications who have worked together with other doctors in Korle-Bu for a year and a half.”
He therefore hoped that the instruments will strengthen the medical capabilities of the hospital as health care improves.
“I hope that KBTH will play bigger roles in medical services for patients not only in Ghana but also in West Africa,” he added.
The Board Chairman of KBTH, Professor Seth Aryeetey, on behalf of the government, thanked the team for their donation.
He said Ghana’s relationship with China had grown into a fruitful one elaborating that the benefits to be derived from the donation was worth more than the money spent on it.
“It is going to translate into helping the men, women and children who will be treated so that they can become strong and productive citizens of Ghana,” he noted.
The Chief Executive Officer of KBTH, Professor Nii Otu Nartey who was touched by the presentation, expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government for the donation.
He said, “They have took notice of our plight and challenges and have brought these things. This is going to improve significantly on the kind of work we do here.”
He charged others to emulate the example of the Chinese medical team adding, “If other groups follow, then we can significantly solve the problems of KBTH.”
Professor Wei Jian Rui (first right) and Gao Wenzhi (second right) presenting the equipment to Professors Seth Aryeetey (second left) and Nii Otu Nartey (first left).
NHIS Law under review
By Ruth Oppong-Nyarko & Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
THE CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah, has observed that there will soon be a law to allow the scheme to operate as an independent legal entity with regards to accountability and efficiency.
“The law under review has been gazetted and submitted to parliament,” he added.
Addressing a delegation from Congo Brazzaville, the CEO admitted that the scheme had gone through some challenges. “We don’t have a perfect system but what is good is that we have a good political system,” he said.
He explained that the system is facing expenditure challenges as the outflows are exceeding inflows, adding that claim payments account for more than 75 per cent of total income generated from taxes and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
“GH¢394.27 million representing 76.2 per cent was used as payments of claims for the year 2010,” he noted.
He noted that the insurance covers up to 95% of health related issues in the country but cautioned the Congolese government not to go that far as that country is new in that area.
Mr. Mensah also observed that the scheme is undertaking some strategies in order to ensure universal health care coverage for all Ghanaians.
“With the consolidated premium account as well as the claims processing center that the scheme has created, all premiums collected is now managed at the district level,” he said.
Mr. Mensah stated that the system currently operates on three schemes: district mutual scheme, private mutual scheme and private commercial scheme, adding that the objective of the service is securing the provision of basic healthcare services to persons resident in Ghana.
He was hopeful that there will soon be a time when foreigners will have to provide health insurance coverage before being accepted into the country.
The delegation lead by Sinibagoy Nollet Bayi, lauded the Ghanaian authorities for sustaining the system and also being able to achieve such a height in the health sector adding that this informed the team’s visit.
“We have come as a result of the fact that the Congolese government is putting up health insurance for all and because Ghana has been in it since 2003, we have come to know how it is faring with regards to challenges and satisfaction.”
He also commended the NHIS for a good relationship between the various intuitions operating under it.
Commenting on the one-time premium payment, Mr. Mensah said that although it will face challenges, it will help generate stock that can go into investment. “We have conducted a consumer survey and it has shown that people are willing to join the one time premium system,” he said
The Congo Brazzaville delegation in a group photograph with management of NHIS.
By Ruth Oppong-Nyarko & Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
THE CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah, has observed that there will soon be a law to allow the scheme to operate as an independent legal entity with regards to accountability and efficiency.
“The law under review has been gazetted and submitted to parliament,” he added.
Addressing a delegation from Congo Brazzaville, the CEO admitted that the scheme had gone through some challenges. “We don’t have a perfect system but what is good is that we have a good political system,” he said.
He explained that the system is facing expenditure challenges as the outflows are exceeding inflows, adding that claim payments account for more than 75 per cent of total income generated from taxes and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
“GH¢394.27 million representing 76.2 per cent was used as payments of claims for the year 2010,” he noted.
He noted that the insurance covers up to 95% of health related issues in the country but cautioned the Congolese government not to go that far as that country is new in that area.
Mr. Mensah also observed that the scheme is undertaking some strategies in order to ensure universal health care coverage for all Ghanaians.
“With the consolidated premium account as well as the claims processing center that the scheme has created, all premiums collected is now managed at the district level,” he said.
Mr. Mensah stated that the system currently operates on three schemes: district mutual scheme, private mutual scheme and private commercial scheme, adding that the objective of the service is securing the provision of basic healthcare services to persons resident in Ghana.
He was hopeful that there will soon be a time when foreigners will have to provide health insurance coverage before being accepted into the country.
The delegation lead by Sinibagoy Nollet Bayi, lauded the Ghanaian authorities for sustaining the system and also being able to achieve such a height in the health sector adding that this informed the team’s visit.
“We have come as a result of the fact that the Congolese government is putting up health insurance for all and because Ghana has been in it since 2003, we have come to know how it is faring with regards to challenges and satisfaction.”
He also commended the NHIS for a good relationship between the various intuitions operating under it.
Commenting on the one-time premium payment, Mr. Mensah said that although it will face challenges, it will help generate stock that can go into investment. “We have conducted a consumer survey and it has shown that people are willing to join the one time premium system,” he said
The Congo Brazzaville delegation in a group photograph with management of NHIS.
Restructure NHIS
-Muntaka
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
THE CHAIRMAN of the parliamentary-select committee on health, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak has called on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to undertake constructive decisions in order to make the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) suitable more for Ghanaians.
He said even though the authority is at liberty to tap into the experiences of other countries with regards to best practices, it must ensure that the scheme is appropriate for the Ghanaian populace.
“We should look at best practices from other jurisdictions but we must provide a scheme that will work for us as Ghanaians,” he said.
Alhaji Muntaka made the recommendation at the second NHIS stakeholders’ forum held in Accra themed: “Building Stakeholder Consensus towards Quality and Sustainability.”
He said government is making all the necessary amendments to ensure the early release of funds by the Ministry of Finance to the authority.
“Government is doing all it can to resolve the challenge the Ministry of Finance is facing with the release of funding to NHIA.”
He further called on the authority to increase their coverage adding that 51% of those covered are persons below eighteen years of age.
“This means that those that are paying are not properly covered. Act 650 of 2003 mandates every person to register for the scheme,” he noted.
Minister of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, also affirmed government’s commitment to the scheme.
“Last week, I laid before parliament a bill to replace the existing NHIS law,” he said.
He noted that the law which is undergoing changes will help the authority operate more efficiently.
The sector minister however suggested computerization of registered persons under the scheme to reduce the volume of NHIS cards in hospitals.
The Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Sylvester Mensah, said the aim of holding the forum was to express the authority’s commitment to transparency and its willingness to learn in order to improve the quality of service provided to the country.
“This forum will also help in sustaining the standard we have set in quality health delivery as well as solicit views, ideas and concerns on how we can move forward,” he explained.
He further noted that the scheme had reached its present stage as a result of the strong non-partisan political will in the country.
This, he said had enabled the authority to make claim payments within 60 days instead of the previous payment duration of nine months.
Mr. Mensah said the authority had also made great strides in its financial management adding “the first annual report of NHIS will be on our website next week.”
-Muntaka
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
THE CHAIRMAN of the parliamentary-select committee on health, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak has called on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to undertake constructive decisions in order to make the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) suitable more for Ghanaians.
He said even though the authority is at liberty to tap into the experiences of other countries with regards to best practices, it must ensure that the scheme is appropriate for the Ghanaian populace.
“We should look at best practices from other jurisdictions but we must provide a scheme that will work for us as Ghanaians,” he said.
Alhaji Muntaka made the recommendation at the second NHIS stakeholders’ forum held in Accra themed: “Building Stakeholder Consensus towards Quality and Sustainability.”
He said government is making all the necessary amendments to ensure the early release of funds by the Ministry of Finance to the authority.
“Government is doing all it can to resolve the challenge the Ministry of Finance is facing with the release of funding to NHIA.”
He further called on the authority to increase their coverage adding that 51% of those covered are persons below eighteen years of age.
“This means that those that are paying are not properly covered. Act 650 of 2003 mandates every person to register for the scheme,” he noted.
Minister of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, also affirmed government’s commitment to the scheme.
“Last week, I laid before parliament a bill to replace the existing NHIS law,” he said.
He noted that the law which is undergoing changes will help the authority operate more efficiently.
The sector minister however suggested computerization of registered persons under the scheme to reduce the volume of NHIS cards in hospitals.
The Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Sylvester Mensah, said the aim of holding the forum was to express the authority’s commitment to transparency and its willingness to learn in order to improve the quality of service provided to the country.
“This forum will also help in sustaining the standard we have set in quality health delivery as well as solicit views, ideas and concerns on how we can move forward,” he explained.
He further noted that the scheme had reached its present stage as a result of the strong non-partisan political will in the country.
This, he said had enabled the authority to make claim payments within 60 days instead of the previous payment duration of nine months.
Mr. Mensah said the authority had also made great strides in its financial management adding “the first annual report of NHIS will be on our website next week.”
Restructure NHIS
-Muntaka
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
THE CHAIRMAN of the parliamentary-select committee on health, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak has called on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to undertake constructive decisions in order to make the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) suitable more for Ghanaians.
He said even though the authority is at liberty to tap into the experiences of other countries with regards to best practices, it must ensure that the scheme is appropriate for the Ghanaian populace.
“We should look at best practices from other jurisdictions but we must provide a scheme that will work for us as Ghanaians,” he said.
Alhaji Muntaka made the recommendation at the second NHIS stakeholders’ forum held in Accra themed: “Building Stakeholder Consensus towards Quality and Sustainability.”
He said government is making all the necessary amendments to ensure the early release of funds by the Ministry of Finance to the authority.
“Government is doing all it can to resolve the challenge the Ministry of Finance is facing with the release of funding to NHIA.”
He further called on the authority to increase their coverage adding that 51% of those covered are persons below eighteen years of age.
“This means that those that are paying are not properly covered. Act 650 of 2003 mandates every person to register for the scheme,” he noted.
Minister of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, also affirmed government’s commitment to the scheme.
“Last week, I laid before parliament a bill to replace the existing NHIS law,” he said.
He noted that the law which is undergoing changes will help the authority operate more efficiently.
The sector minister however suggested computerization of registered persons under the scheme to reduce the volume of NHIS cards in hospitals.
The Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Sylvester Mensah, said the aim of holding the forum was to express the authority’s commitment to transparency and its willingness to learn in order to improve the quality of service provided to the country.
“This forum will also help in sustaining the standard we have set in quality health delivery as well as solicit views, ideas and concerns on how we can move forward,” he explained.
He further noted that the scheme had reached its present stage as a result of the strong non-partisan political will in the country.
This, he said had enabled the authority to make claim payments within 60 days instead of the previous payment duration of nine months.
Mr. Mensah said the authority had also made great strides in its financial management adding “the first annual report of NHIS will be on our website next week.”
Caption: The Minister of Health in a discussion with Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Elias Sory at the event.
-Muntaka
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
THE CHAIRMAN of the parliamentary-select committee on health, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak has called on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to undertake constructive decisions in order to make the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) suitable more for Ghanaians.
He said even though the authority is at liberty to tap into the experiences of other countries with regards to best practices, it must ensure that the scheme is appropriate for the Ghanaian populace.
“We should look at best practices from other jurisdictions but we must provide a scheme that will work for us as Ghanaians,” he said.
Alhaji Muntaka made the recommendation at the second NHIS stakeholders’ forum held in Accra themed: “Building Stakeholder Consensus towards Quality and Sustainability.”
He said government is making all the necessary amendments to ensure the early release of funds by the Ministry of Finance to the authority.
“Government is doing all it can to resolve the challenge the Ministry of Finance is facing with the release of funding to NHIA.”
He further called on the authority to increase their coverage adding that 51% of those covered are persons below eighteen years of age.
“This means that those that are paying are not properly covered. Act 650 of 2003 mandates every person to register for the scheme,” he noted.
Minister of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, also affirmed government’s commitment to the scheme.
“Last week, I laid before parliament a bill to replace the existing NHIS law,” he said.
He noted that the law which is undergoing changes will help the authority operate more efficiently.
The sector minister however suggested computerization of registered persons under the scheme to reduce the volume of NHIS cards in hospitals.
The Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Sylvester Mensah, said the aim of holding the forum was to express the authority’s commitment to transparency and its willingness to learn in order to improve the quality of service provided to the country.
“This forum will also help in sustaining the standard we have set in quality health delivery as well as solicit views, ideas and concerns on how we can move forward,” he explained.
He further noted that the scheme had reached its present stage as a result of the strong non-partisan political will in the country.
This, he said had enabled the authority to make claim payments within 60 days instead of the previous payment duration of nine months.
Mr. Mensah said the authority had also made great strides in its financial management adding “the first annual report of NHIS will be on our website next week.”
Caption: The Minister of Health in a discussion with Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Elias Sory at the event.
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