The government has been urged to release funds due the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to enable the authority to pay all outstanding debts to service providers.
The Healthcare Advocacy Coalition (HAC), a coalition of non-governmental organistions (NGOs), which made the call in Accra yesterday, said it was wrong for any Ghanaian to be denied health care because of the non-payment of funds to the NHIA.
Speaking at a news conference in Accra, a member of the HAC, Mr George Osei Bempeh, urged the government to prioritise primary healthcare delivery across the country.
The news conference, which marked the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) day, was held on the theme: “Primary health care: A pathway to achieving universal health coverage.”
The day, which was celebrated worldwide on December 12, is set aside to create awareness of primary health care.
CHPS compound
Mr Bempeh asked the government to equip Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds with the requisite human resource, as well as logistics and other medical essentials, to improve primary healthcare coverage across the country.
He said the coalition expected the government to develop a robust monitoring and evaluation system that would make CHPS compounds contribute significantly to primary health coverage.
“We demand a revamp and re-sourcing of all non-functional CHPS compounds,” he said.
SDG on health
Mr Bempeh called for the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on health into the 2017-2018 mid-term development framework and costing plans by all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).
Besides, he said, it was crucial for the government to maximise the enormous opportunities offered by the SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063 to improve primary healthcare delivery across the country.
He said the HAC was prepared to engage constructively with the government to ensure the full adoption of primary health coverage in the country.
Source: Graphic online
