By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu, GNA
Bolgatanga, Sept. 15, GNA – The District Directors of Health Service Group (DDHS-G), has urged the Government and Ministry of Health to sustain political and financial commitments to the Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) policy, for its translation into accessible and quality healthcare for Ghanaians.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 33rd Annual General Conference of the DDHS-G held at Bolgatanga.
The conference was held on the theme: “From Policy to Practice: The DDHS Driving Free Primary Health Care Towards Universal Health Coverage in Ghana.”
It brought together DDHS from all 16 regions, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), senior management of the Service among other stakeholders.
The DDHS Group described the FPHC as “Ghana’s most important pathway towards Universal Health Coverage,” but said its success would depend largely on effective implementation at district and community levels.
The communiqué, jointly signed by Dr Justice Thomas Sevugu, its National Chairman and Mr Martin Sumani Daanko, the National Secretary, noted that District Directors of Health Service had a critical responsibility in translating the FPHC policy into services that directly benefited communities.
“District Directors of Health Service are the principal drivers of implementation, responsible for translating national policy into quality healthcare services for every community,” the communiqué stated.
The group said the provision of free healthcare should not come at the expense of quality, “Free healthcare must also be quality healthcare: timely, safe, equitable and people-centred, especially for poor and vulnerable populations.”
To strengthen implementation, the DDHS Group urged government and the Ministry of Health to ensure uninterrupted supplies of essential medicines, laboratory reagents and logistics to frontline health facilities.
It also called for the equitable deployment of health professionals to underserved districts and adequate operational resources for District Health Directorates.
The communiqué further appealed to the government to conclude negotiations on comprehensive Conditions of Service for District Directors of Health Services and Medical Superintendents.
The communiqué said the conference welcomed Health Minister’s commitment towards the strengthening of primary health care financing, expanding the health workforce, providing additional logistics and ensuring that the issue regarding Conditions of Service, was tabled for negotiation.
The DDHS Group commended the government for introducing the FPHC policy, describing it as “a transformative health sector reform.”
It also commended the GHS for providing technical leadership and developing implementation guidelines, particularly a directive for regions, districts and health facilities to redistribute idle equipment and logistics to facilities where they were most needed.
The group also welcomed the National Health Insurance Authority’s (NHIA) decision to raise NHIA tariffs by about 50 per cent across board.
The DDHS Group pledged to champion the implementation of the FPHC policy in every district, while promoting accountability, transparency and prudent management of public resources.
The conference called on the government, Ministry of Health, GHS, NHIA, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, development partners and other stakeholders, to work together to move the issues “from policy into practice,” to ensure accessible, quality and equitable healthcare for every person in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Reporter’s email: [email protected]