The Ministry of Health (MOH) has launched the Ghana Health Financing Strategy 2023-2030 to provide practical guidance and solutions to financing primary healthcare in Ghana.
Speaking at the launch last Friday, the Representative of the Government at the Ministry of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, who was represented by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Alhaji Hafiz Adam, stated that Ghana’s overall health spending per capita (USD64) is lower than that of other middle-income nations like Nigeria (USDS78) and Kenya (USD74), indicating the need to address ongoing and long-standing health financial difficulties that obstruct health-related goals.
He said the strategy aligns with international standards mandating the financing system should be tailored to ensure universal access to essential health services, including prevention, promotion and rehabilitation and safeguarding individuals from financial hardship resulting from healthcare expenses.
Dr Okoe-Boye added that the goal of the strategy is to improve primary healthcare service procurement at lower levels through healthcare practices and address the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) funding issues, which include industry income mobilisation, fund pooling and a more clearly defined benefit package.
He said the Ministry has revised the Essential Health Services Package to incorporate additional preventive measures and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) into the benefit package for implementation.
He said the MoH has also developed a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) roadmap to steer the nation’s course towards achieving UHC.
On his part, the WHO country representative, Dr Frank Lule, stated that progress toward achieving UHC has been identified as largely dependent on the health finance plan.
He said the launch of the strategy coincided with Ghana’s implementation of key strategies Networks of Practice aimed at attaining UHC.
“Development partners remain committed to assisting the Government of Ghana to build a resilient health system that places sustainable financing at the centre of health delivery,” he added.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
