GMA urges PPP for sustainable healthcare delivery
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called for stronger public-private partnerships (PPPs) to achieve sustainable healthcare delivery in the country.
The immediate past President of the association, Dr Frank Serebour, made the statement during the 67th Annual Conference of the GMA, which ended in Cape Coast in the Central Region last Sunday.
The conference featured scientific sessions where experts discussed various topics related to public-private partnerships, including training, capital investment, healthcare tourism, and quality of care.
The week-long conference was on the theme: "Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Healthcare Delivery".
Dr Serebour highlighted success stories and challenges faced by the association, emphasising the need for collective action to address issues like road traffic accidents and environmental degradation.
He expressed concern over the recent challenges with the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS), which disrupted national health insurance services, citing disruptions in continuity of care and data security issues.
Dr Serebour condemned illegal mining activities in the country, commonly called galamsey, describing it as a threat to life and the environment, and called for sustained efforts to address the issue.
He urged the government to resolve outstanding issues related to the conditions of service of medical doctors and dentists.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, stressed the need for PPPs to improve healthcare delivery, highlighting the government's commitment to deepening such partnerships.
He announced plans to open up some under-construction public health facilities for PPP agreements to speed up their completion to serve the public.
The Chairman of the 67th conference organising committee, Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ofori, expressed gratitude to members of the association for their commitment to the cause of the group over the years.
The Rector of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Prof. Dr Richard Adanu, urged the association to stay focused and fit for the profession.
The GMA also used the occasion to reward outstanding members for their contributions to the association and the healthcare sector.
New leadership
The conference elected new officers to serve as the National Executive Committee of the GMA.
The new officers included Prof. Dr (Med) Ernest Yorke as President and Dr (Dent) Richard Selormey as General Secretary.
