Procurement, management of hospital equipment to be privatised — Health Minister
The government will soon privatise the procurement, management and maintenance of hospital equipment across the country as part of efforts to further improve efficiency and sustainability in the health sector.
This new model will allow private entities with direct links to the equipment manufacturers to supply, maintain and manage medical devices for health facilities, while the government health professionals operate them.
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, made this known during the annual general and scientific conference of the Medical Superintendent Group (MSG) held at Nkwatia in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region.
The meeting was also to discuss how best to address relevant issues related to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are increasing, and to develop strategic solutions to the problem.
Efficiency
Mr Akandoh explained that the new approach would seek to eliminate persistent equipment breakdowns and shortages and also ensure regular maintenance to guarantee quality healthcare delivery.
“Government buying equipment all the time is not sustainable. We must think differently. Criticisms are welcome, but we must innovate if we want better results,” he said.
He said the new model would allow private entities with direct links to equipment manufacturers to supply, maintain and manage medical devices for health facilities, while government health professionals operated them.
“We know standard equipment for each regional hospital, and we know standard equipment for each teaching hospital. And therefore, we’ll float it. So, people who are interested and have direct relationships with manufacturers of equipment would then bid to go through the processes,” he explained.
NHIS to pay
Mr Akandoh further disclosed that payments to vendors would be made through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by restructuring the current claims system.
He also stated that there would be a certain level of profit-sharing arrangement with the facilities.
NCDs
On the issue of NCDs, the Health Minister expressed concern about the devastating impact of some NCDs, citing an example of how cervical cancer was claiming many lives at an alarming rate.
He stated that approximately 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer were recorded each year, of which about 2,000 patients did not survive.
In that regard, Mr Akandoh stated that the government had introduced HPV vaccines, targeting about 2.4 million girls between the ages of nine and 14 as part of the preventative measures against cervical cancer.
Furthermore, he indicated that the government would be expanding access to cervical cancer machines to screen Ghanaians at the various health facilities nationwide.
That, the minister explained, would detect the disease early so that medication could help reduce deaths associated with the disease.
