Ghanaians want the abolition of "cash and carry"

About 60 per cent of Ghanaians want the abolition of the "cash and carry" system being operated in health facilities throughout the country, a survey undertaken by the Structural Adjustment Programme Review Initiative (SAPRI) and released at a two-day regional workshop at Sekondi on Thursday said.

SAPRI initiated the studies to assess the impact of the government's reform policies in agriculture, mining, education and health.

The survey revealed that the cost of drug recovery fee prohibits many people, particularly the poor from patronising hospital facilities even when they are suffering from serious illness thus impacting negatively on certain vulnerable groups.

The exemptions granted to certain categories of people were found to be ineffective.

The SAPRI is a joint project of the government, World Bank and a network of civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations.