Why officeholders must not receive medical attention abroad

A few months ago, Ghana lost a young and energetic politician, Dr John Kumah, to ill health.

Mr Kumah, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu and a Deputy Minister of Finance, died under circumstances that became a fodder for public discourse for weeks.

According to media reports, the first-term lawmaker had returned to Ghana from Germany, where he sought medical attention, to celebrate the country’s independence, when his sickness took a bad turn.

My sincere condolences to his family, constituents and loved ones for their loss.

All

Dr Kumah is not the first Ghanaian politician to have travelled outside the country for medical support.

There is a long list, but the records out there show that former President J.E.A Mills (deceased), President Nana Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and almost all of our politicians seek medical attention outside the country.

In fact, some of them passed away while out of the country ‒ E.T Mensah, a former Minister of Youth and Sports during the Rawlings regime and the longest-serving MP for Ningo-Prampram,died in South Africa. Former MP for Bawku Central, Hawa Ogede Yakubu, died in the United Kingdom.

These leaders travelled abroad to seek medical help because ‒ our healthcare system is not developed enough to cater for their needs ‒ a fact that was glaring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our public health system is in shambles.

Thousands of people line up in the OPDs of public hospitals across the country early in the morning and leave late in the evening, while doling out hundreds of cedis in out-of-pocket payments despite being subscribers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Preventable diseases still kill a large number of women and children, people travel long distances to receive healthcare, and across the country, patients sleep on hospital floors.

On top of this, our health professionals are leaving the country in droves to seek greener pastures outside. We are nowhere near the UN patient-doctor/nurse ratio, yet some state regulators give educational institutions quotas to train nurses.

These gaps in our healthcare system make it easier for our leaders to seek medical help outside. 

Highlights

Ghanaian leaders seeking medical treatment abroad have sparked a national debate on the state of healthcare in Ghana.

This practice not only highlights a lack of confidence in the domestic healthcare system, but also raises questions about the commitment of leaders to improve the very institutions they oversee.

While I commend President Nana Akufo-Addo for his Agenda 111 project to build hospitals in underserved districts in our country, we know that those hospitals will not stop our leaders from travelling abroad.

Economic implications

When leaders opt for medical treatment abroad, it sends a clear message to the citizens and healthcare professionals: the local health services are not up to par.

This undermines public trust and demoralises the medical community striving to provide quality care against all odds.

The financial burden of medical tourism on the taxpayer is significant. Instead, funds that could be invested in improving local healthcare infrastructure and services are used to cover the high costs of treatment abroad, including travel and accommodation for the patient and their entourage.

Medical tourism among our political elite is a big cause of concern because they are responsible for the development of proper healthcare for the citizens of their countries.

A resilient healthcare system can withstand shocks, whether economic crises, pandemics or natural disasters.

It ensures the continuous delivery of quality essential services, adapts to changing health needs and recovers quickly from disruptions. 

By investing in local healthcare, Ghana can develop a system that is robust, equitable and accessible to all its citizens irrespective of their economic or political status.

Role, leadership

Leaders have a responsibility to set an example. By seeking medical care domestically, they can demonstrate faith in Ghana’s healthcare system and inspire confidence among the populace.

Moreover, it would encourage leaders to prioritise healthcare reforms and investments, knowing they also rely on these services.

I think the only thing that will prevent our leaders from travelling outside is the political will to ban such travel.

Banning Ghanaian leaders from seeking medical treatment abroad is a bold, but necessary step towards healthcare reform.

It would ensure that the nation’s leaders' health is intertwined with its healthcare system’s health, fostering a shared interest in its prosperity and resilience.

The time has come for Ghana’s leaders to lead by example and invest in a healthcare system that serves all Ghanaians, now and in the future.

Our investment in healthcare should not be about just infrastructure, but also human resources. It is, therefore, worrying that the government is giving quotas to some education institutions to train nurses. We need more while the thousands leave.

It’s time to do what is right ‒ ban foreign medical travel for our leaders. If they feel our pain, I believe they’ll invest in a medical system that has no respect for status.

The time is now. 

The writer is the Chancellor, Wisconsin International University College, and a former President-General of the West Africa Nobles Forum.