Health Minister highlights investments in digital infrastructure at the health sector
The Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye on Wednesday gave an account on the health sector and outlined investments the government has made in infrastructure and digital platforms to improve healthcare delivery across the country.
The Minister noted that most hospitals in Ghana are now interconnected with the deployment of advance IT enabled systems which have streamlined patient care and enhanced data management.
He was speaking at a press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra.
“If you are transferred from Central Regional Hospital to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, you don’t carry a folder. You just have to give your ID number, and the system has all your data,”. Hon Okoe Boye explained. Underscoring how this innovation has significantly improved healthcare access and delivery.
Dr. Okoe Boye, cited the National E-Health Project which serves as real-time health surveillance system and helps medical authorities identify disease outbreaks promptly.
“In real-time, the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service can immediately tell that something is happening in the country, and we can move to address it promptly,” he said.
He stated that under the current administration, hospitals have received technological upgrades, including networking infrastructure, laptops, and tablets for healthcare professionals.
He further reiterated that the digital transformation extends to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) through the My NHIS app, which allows citizens to register for health insurance using their Ghana Card and mobile payment options.
Dr. Okoe Boye further indicated that with the introduction of drone centers, blood and other essential medicines could be delivered to remote areas to ensure universal access to health care.
He commended the introduction of subsidies for dialysis treatment and the government's commitment to supporting patients with childhood cancers, mental health conditions, and other serious health challenges.
“For the first time since the Fourth Republic, the government has intervened or gotten involved with paying for kidney care,” he noted.
With the expansion of healthcare infrastructure and the integration of digital platforms, Dr. Boye reaffirmed the government's commitment to building a resilient health system capable of responding to the needs of all Ghanaians.