Ghana has made strides in health regulations - Dr Osei

Dr Darius K. Osei, the Chief Executive Officer, University of Ghana Medical Centre, says Ghana has made strides in passing regulations to improve quality health care delivery.

He commended government for passing the health-related bills, including the comprehensive public health bill, which had helped to enhance recognition and responses to public health issues in the country.

Dr Osei was speaking at the Eighth African Health Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Practitioners Conference in Accra on Wednesday.

The conference was on the theme: "Harmonisation of Health Regulations to Improving Health Care Delivery in Ghana".

He said the country had developed a comprehensive Mental Health Bill, which protects the rights of people with mental disorders and promotes mental health care in the community in accordance with international human rights standards.

He said for the health sector to be effective and efficient, healthcare delivery must be accessible and appropriate to the community with modern technology.

The CEO said the technical competencies and skills of health practitioners was critical in improving quality health care and to as well meet the Sustainable Development Goal three, that ensures healthy lives and promoting the wellbeing of all ages.

Dr Osei urged health authorities to work effectively on the safety of patients and staff, to avoid the situation where a patient comes with malaria and go back with other diseases.

He said the health authorities should intensify their supervisory and monitoring role and ensure timeliness and continuity of care and as well put in place an effective referral system for quality delivery.

Dr Osei called for a decentralized system in the registration of health institutions to avoid undue delays that affect the smooth operation of health care system in the country.

Mr Kwame Dzikunu, the President of Health CEOs Scientist Network, said the conference was to bring health practitioners together to exchange and share ideas on the improvement of health issues in the country.

He said the conference would provide structural platform for participants to discuss regulatory issues that borders on health institutions and chart the path towards the improvement of quality health care.