The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, has stated that good leadership is crucial in distinguishing crises from opportunities within the healthcare delivery system.
He urged managers of health service institutions to embrace innovation and capacity building to tackle emerging challenges and elevate the standard of healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Dr Bampoe made the call at the opening of the 2025 University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) Research Conference held at the university’s main campus at Sokode-Lokoe near Ho on Thursday, October 31.
The three-day conference, themed “Global Health Resilience – Emerging Threats, Policy Impacts and Sustainable Solutions”, brought together health researchers from 11 African countries, along with participants from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland. It also featured a symposium on “The Politics of Global Health – Policies, Aid and Power Dynamics.”
Dr Bampoe noted that the increasing complexities of global health challenges demanded proactive measures and preparedness as the benchmark for quality research and sustainable health solutions.
“This is necessary to proactively strengthen systems in the sector, rather than reactively manage crises,” he explained.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of the Global Health European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 3 in Brussels, Dr Michael Makanga, said the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed both the vulnerabilities and strengths of global clinical trial systems.
He highlighted the growing frequency and complexity of biological and non-biological health threats and called for a major paradigm shift in global preparedness.
According to Dr Makanga, the establishment of effective infrastructure and common frameworks was essential, alongside innovative financing models, domestic resource mobilisation, and contingency funds to strengthen health systems against future shocks.
The Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Professor Lydia Aziato, underscored the importance of mental health in the university’s community outreach and research agenda. She said addressing such issues required a resilient and responsive health system.
Professor Aziato further emphasised the need for a multilingual and collaborative approach among neighbouring countries to effectively manage emerging regional and global health challenges.
