General News of 2012-09-19

Use part of oil revenue to support healthcare - GMA

The Ghana medical association is advocating for use of part of the country’s oil revenue in supporting health care delivery in the country.

The association says even though, some political parties have come out with their manifestoes on health, it is still expecting political parties to consider using some of the oil revenue in funding health care delivery and addressing quality gaps in the health sector.

Political parties have come out with manifestoes touching on quality health care in the country, free maternal care under NHIS, one time premium payment among others.

Currently, the health sector’s major source of funding for health insurance scheme is through taxation and the Ghana Medical Association is encouraging political parties to consider the option of using part of the oil revenue bridging the health care delivery gaps.

The Association is of the view that inflows of income from oil sector should be assigned for the health care of the people. Whatever quality gaps, there might be in terms of infrastructure and personnel, this could be used to address them.

At the 12 annual lecture of the Ghana Medical Association, it was noted that Ghana is still far behind in achieving its millennium development goals on health. On the MDG 4, it was noted that though the has been consistent drop in under five mortality of 30%, the neonatal age group continues to experience stagnation and at 350 deaths per 100,000 live births, Ghana’s maternal mortality is still high

The GMA therefore is calling for some interventions in addressing some of these issues under maternal mortality

Chief Executive officer of the Ghana Telecoms Chamber Kwaku Sakyi Addo in a key note address, challenged doctors to explore opportunities in telemedicine which some telecoms are already supporting to improve the delivery of health care in the country.