Cede Agenda 111 hospitals to doctors as group practice

By Samuel Akumatey

Ho, Nov. 09, GNA – Dr. Frank Serebour, President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has suggested the ceding of Agenda 111 hospitals to medical doctors to run as private practice. 

He said this could provide medical doctors with the space to contribute more to the nation’s economy. 

Dr Serebour was addressing the opening of the 66th Annual General Conference of the Association, being held in the Volta Regional Capital, Ho. 

The Conference is on the theme “Fostering Technology, Entrepreneurship and Professionalism in Ghana’s Health Sector,” and the opening event had dignitaries such as Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister for Health, and Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, President’s Special Advisor on Health. 

The President of the Medical Association said upcoming facilities such as the more than 100 hospitals being constructed nationwide under the multibillion-dollar Agenda 111 project, could be considered for group practice by doctors and other health professionals. 

“Hon. Minister of Health and the Special Advisor to the President on Health, is it possible for the government to cede some of the Agenda 111 projects to doctors and other health workers as a form of group practice so that they can pay back to the government with time?” Dr Serebour asked. 

He noted that the GMA had established a partnership with Stanbic Bank to support doctors venture into group practice highly competitive rates from the Bank, saying, “In the current unforgiving stormy economic environment, relying on a sole source of income an external poison. It will kill you either now or in your retirement.” 

Dr. Serebour insisted it was time for medical doctors to “think outside the box and do things differently” and said the high-end mental abilities of the profession should earn practitioner’s economic independence. 

“Let us break away from our comfort zone and explore uncharted territories. We must use our mental scissors to the illusion that as doctors, especially in the public sector, our incomes are going to be enough. This is simply a fantasy sold to us and unfortunately most of us have bought into it completely. Let us strip away the illusions and confront the harsh truth. 

“Let us adopt the strategy of working hard to create other income streams. We should at least be able to trade among ourselves, promote each other’s business and come out with proposals to create group practices among others,” he said. 

On the subject of professionalism, Dr. Serebour emphasised the need to continuously maintain high standards, and said virtue should transcend into the quality of life of professionals as well. 

Dr Serebour used the occasion to highlight growing adoption of tech in the medical service delivery industry in the country and raised concerns over the weaponisation of medical devices as recorded in the Middle East a few weeks ago. 

Dr. Okoe-Boye, the Health Minister, in his speech, assured of the what he called “the highest standards” of device and data security, especially with the rollout of the nationwide electronic health data management system, the e-Health. 

He said the Government had a “listening ear” for medical professionals, evident in the mega investments in health facilities and professional training while expanding access to services through the NHIS. 

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Running Mate for the New Patriotic Party in the upcoming elections, and who was a guest of honour at the event, called for “rethink of the workforce orientation in the country” and said doctors could be empowered to run private services. 

More than 1,000 members of the GMA are in the Volta Region for the weeklong programme, and among dignitaries at the opening event held at the Cedi Auditorium of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, was the Director General of the Ghana Health Service and heads of various professional associations within the health sector. 

Four members were inducted Fellows of the Association, among them the Health Minister, and Professor Fred Newton Binka, world renowned Ghanaian scientist. 

GNA