In a race against time to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, Ghana faces significant hurdles as it strives to ensure all individuals have access to quality health services without financial constraint.
With just six years remaining, the country’s Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index stands at approximately 50%, signaling an urgent need for decisive action to bolster healthcare infrastructure and address systemic challenges.
Despite the challenges, there is a glimmer of hope, as highlighted by Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service.
Mrs. Araba Kudiabor, the Director for the Supplies Stores and Drugs Management speaking on behalf of the Director General of the Ghana Health Service during the 2023 Annual Review Meeting by the Eastern Regional Health Directorate in Koforidua cited improvements in key health indicators.
These key indicators according to her include hospital admission rates, antenatal care attendance, malaria testing rates, family planning acceptance, and early breastfeeding rates.
These improvements she noted underscore Ghana’s potential to make significant strides towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
However, the Director for the Supplies Stores and Drugs Management recounted a number of challenges confronting the country’s health sector.
She mentioned that while the country has made progress in areas such as family planning, hospital admission rate, institutional neonatal mortality rate among several others, OPD per capita, institutional infant mortality, institutional under-five mortality, percentage of skilled delivery, institutional maternal mortality ratio, and all immunization coverage have been quite stagnant.
She emphasized the need for collaboration with stakeholders and international partners to bolster these gains and reach UHC goals.
“We shall do more intentionally this year to see a shift in the right direction. While we are just six years away from achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, our UHC Service Coverage Index, as a country, is hovering around 50%.
“This clearly is not good enough. Can we achieve UHC over the remaining six years? This is a challenge I throw to you all. What can we do differently to accelerate that journey? What must we do away with to catalyze that process to achieve UHC?”
Mrs. Araba Kudiabor, Director for the Supplies Stores and Drugs Management, Ghana Health Service
Mass Migration Of HeaLthcare Workers
Other pressing concerns that demand immediate attention according Mrs. Araba Kudiabor is the mass migration of healthcare workers to Europe, which poses a grave threat to Ghana’s healthcare system.
The loss of experienced staff, she argued undermines the country’s ability to provide essential health services effectively.
Mrs. Araba Kudiabor further recounted that efforts are underway to mitigate this challenge, with the Ministry of Health actively recruiting more staff and improving conditions, particularly in underserved areas.
She also revealed that research has been commissioned to identify strategies to retain healthcare workers in rural regions, where their presence is critical.
Meanwhile, Dr. Winfred Ofosu, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, emphasized the urgent need for infrastructure improvements and the effective implementation of a network of practices to strengthen the primary healthcare system.
These measures, she noted are essential to overcome the obstacles hindering progress towards achieving the Universal Healthcare Coverage by 2030.
Dr Winfred Ofosu further indicated that in the Eastern Region, while there have been improvements in certain health metrics, challenges persist.
According to her, even though maternal mortality and stillbirth rates have decreased, overall mortality rates have seen a slight increase while the functionality of Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and zone facilities remains a concern, with only 50% reported as operational in the region.
In the light of the above worrying development, it is dutiful that the government takes immediate and decisive steps to address the myriad challenges confronting Ghana’s healthcare system.
Investing in healthcare infrastructure, ensuring adequate staffing levels, especially in rural areas, and enhancing the functionality of primary healthcare facilities are critical priorities.
Furthermore, collaboration with stakeholders and international partners as earlier intimated by the Director for the Supplies Stores and Drugs Management of the Ghana Health Service is imperative to bolster Ghana’s healthcare system and accelerate progress towards achieving the Universal Health Coverage.
It is important to stress that prioritizing healthcare and implementing targeted interventions, Ghana can overcome its challenges and ensure that all its citizens have access to essential health services by 2030.
Failure to act decisively risks jeopardizing the health and well-being of millions of Ghanaians and falling short of the global UHC target.
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