The Government of Ghana has made advances on digital inclusion in the health sector as part of her ambitious digitalization agenda.
In the fight against COVID-19, Ghana has become the first country in the ECOWAS Sub region to deploy a system for digital verification of COVID-19 PCR test results. This platform is based on the African Union Trusted Travel and ECOWAS BIOMARS. The platform would help stop the circulation of fake COVID- 19 test results.
In a statement, Ghana’s Health Minister said the new verification tool would allow only travelers with certificates bearing Trusted Travel of BIOMARS codes to travel out of Ghana. Travelers arriving in the country must use a tool made available through the UNDP-supported Global Haven Partnership for Covid-19 PCR test results certificate verification.
Moreover, the statement advised travelers to sign up for accounts on a website with the same e-mail address and mobile numbers they provided to the laboratories during testing.
Relatedly, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital has deployed a telemedicine application to enable patients to have access to health care at the facility without visiting the premises. The Medical Director of the facility said the new platform would address the present congestion at the outpatients department (OPD) of the hospital. Dr Emmanuel Srofenyo, the Medical Director called on the public to utilize the application to improve access to health care.
“We want to encourage our clients to use this App so that we can reduce OPD attendance…
“Some of them go through a lot of trouble to come to the hospital and we want to help address that.”
Dr Emmanuel Srofenyo, Ridge Hospital
Telemedicine App to improve Health Care Access
The Telemedicine, dubbed ‘GH-live doctor’, is the distribution of health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunications technologies. It allows long-distance patients have access to clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring and remote admission. The ‘GH-live doctor’ is currently running on a pilot basis by the public healthcare facility before a national roll out.
Dr Srofenyo said the application would also collect useful data that would help in healthcare planning across the country. For instance, it could help the authorities know the demography and age dynamics of people who called in to complain of particular diseases.
On his part, Mr Yaw KariKari, the CEO of the ‘GH-live doctor’ application explained the need for the telemedicine. He said the country needs the telemedicine App due to the unimpressive doctor-patient ratio which limits access to health care.
Additionally, he said the medical information on the app would be encrypted and logins would be secured with fingerprints. He added that the App would provide all-time access to the medical records of patients which would come in handy during emergencies.
“Prescriptions can be made on the app and laboratory tests can also be ordered from it. It also makes room for patients to know the speciality of physicians and even video chat with them.”
Dr Emmanuel Srofenyo, Ridge Hospital
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