System failure is cause of Ghana's poor healthcare - Prof. Frimpong-Boateng

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  The issue is not so much about "systems failure" as it is about 'systems capacity'. There is a need for capacity development to equipt the health system and make it fit for purpose. A Roots and Branch Approach is needed.
  
  W ...
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  The issue is not so much about "systems failure" as it is about 'systems capacity'. There is a need for capacity development to equipt the health system and make it fit for purpose. A Roots and Branch Approach is needed.
  
  We also need to Build Capacity across the health sector to ensure the right human resource at all levels, competent to handle problems within their training and means. That requires opening up our training institutions and supporting new projects e.g. UHAS to train health workers at all levels, especially the middle level; with an emphasis on public health and primary care.
  
  On the matter of health care spending, the official statistics used to calculate health care expenditure per capita can be misleading as up to 70% of Ghanaians bear the majority of their health care cost outside official health spending. If 'personal spending on health' is factored into the calculations, per capital health expenditure would be much much higher than the USD90 quoted by Prof. Frimpong-Boateng.
  
  Perhaps he used these figures to argue his case about under-resourcing of health care or lack of government or official ODA Spend in health. If you look at a breakdown of the World Bank's own figures about the distribition of Overseas Developmental Assistance or Overseas Aid to poor countries, the share of the care allocated to Health is about the lowest in the pie, a reflection also of how governments allocate resources for the health care sector.
  
  We need to review the National Health Insurance System as it is now to see if it offers Value-for-Money. In fact, I would suggest an Evaluation Study based on good research design to help inform future management of that system.
  
  It is worth noting that as long as subsidies on health care are 'squeezed' out of government budgets and the 'burden of health care' rests more and more on individuals and families, the official figures for health care spend per capita will continue to fall. Therefore to be fair, and to get a more objective and reflective figure of health care costs or burden per capita, we need to collect reliable data from 'health care consumers' to help provide a better picture.

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• teddy 12 years ago

  Good response Paul Amuna, this exactly true. It take every individual resource to contribute and make it work.

  Good response Paul Amuna, this exactly true. It take every individual resource to contribute and make it work.

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• OWEN, NEW YORK. 12 years ago

  Black man in America (African American) is different in thinking from we in African. African black is corrupt, greedy and sit-tight if even he can't do the job. If you give him higher post without perks he accept because he h ...
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  Black man in America (African American) is different in thinking from we in African. African black is corrupt, greedy and sit-tight if even he can't do the job. If you give him higher post without perks he accept because he has a way to steal money.

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• SGT ANANI FIADZOE 12 years ago

  Kufuor is the lowest of the lowest African, the nastiest of the nasty Africans, the greediest of the most greedy on earth, and the most incompetent of the most incompetent in the whole world who spent all his days as presiden ...
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  Kufuor is the lowest of the lowest African, the nastiest of the nasty Africans, the greediest of the most greedy on earth, and the most incompetent of the most incompetent in the whole world who spent all his days as president travelling all over the world.

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• insight to the bone 12 years ago

  If he does not benefit from 'it', he will not allow it or facilitate it!!! foreign teams who were not willing to grease his palms, were quickly shown the door!!!! shame on you prof!!!

  If he does not benefit from 'it', he will not allow it or facilitate it!!! foreign teams who were not willing to grease his palms, were quickly shown the door!!!! shame on you prof!!!

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• GHFUO, be serious & change ur MENtali 12 years ago

  WHY ISNT THIS MAN THE MINISTER OF HEALTH IN GH?
  CAN THESE ISSUES THAT HE HAS RAISED BE FIXED? SO CANT MAHAMA CONSUKT THIS MAN N USE HIM TO ALLEVIATE GH'S HEALTHCARE ISSUES? OH LOED..EBEI!

  WHY ISNT THIS MAN THE MINISTER OF HEALTH IN GH?
  CAN THESE ISSUES THAT HE HAS RAISED BE FIXED? SO CANT MAHAMA CONSUKT THIS MAN N USE HIM TO ALLEVIATE GH'S HEALTHCARE ISSUES? OH LOED..EBEI!

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• www.owafk-africa.com 12 years ago

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• NANA KUFUOR 12 years ago

  Dr Frimpong Boateng has no idea about quality health care. It is these doctors who are messing up the health care system. It is not a doctor's job to manage a hospital. His job is to serve patients. The failure is caused by d ...
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  Dr Frimpong Boateng has no idea about quality health care. It is these doctors who are messing up the health care system. It is not a doctor's job to manage a hospital. His job is to serve patients. The failure is caused by doctors intefering in the management of health care.

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• AKWASI 12 years ago

  Sgt Fiadxoe or what you call yourself, the bible is explicit that we should honour our father and mother (elderly)in order to have a longer life, do you think by calling former Pres. Kuffour names you will live to eat the fru ...
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  Sgt Fiadxoe or what you call yourself, the bible is explicit that we should honour our father and mother (elderly)in order to have a longer life, do you think by calling former Pres. Kuffour names you will live to eat the fruit of the land? be careful and dont use politics eat you up.

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• SGT ANANI FIADZOE 12 years ago

  NPP were jubilating because Frances Essiam defected top them. Now they know that they got more than they bargained for.
  
  Frances' trajectory: From NDC to Obed Asamoah's Party to NPP. Where next? The only option left is PPP. ...
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  NPP were jubilating because Frances Essiam defected top them. Now they know that they got more than they bargained for.
  
  Frances' trajectory: From NDC to Obed Asamoah's Party to NPP. Where next? The only option left is PPP.
  
  NPP's next big defector is John Ndebugre whose trajectory is: From PNDC to PNC to NPP. How long will he remain in NPP? Not very long.
  
  After all a rolling stone gathers no moss, as they say!

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• Koo Nimo 12 years ago

  When Sherry Ayitey needs medical attention she will go to South Africa

  When Sherry Ayitey needs medical attention she will go to South Africa

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• RIGHTMAN 12 years ago

  Sherry Ayitey ought to be fired for going to South Africa for health care if her ministry is not capable of providing basic health care to majority of Ghanaians including herself. By the way Ghanaweb, please check your tenses ...
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  Sherry Ayitey ought to be fired for going to South Africa for health care if her ministry is not capable of providing basic health care to majority of Ghanaians including herself. By the way Ghanaweb, please check your tenses or grammar for quite often your articles are below appreciable jounalistic standards.eg Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosah a pathologist, not a Pathology.

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• Sk 12 years ago

  Evidence.

  Evidence.

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• YOOMOBEGA 12 years ago

  Define your terms:
  What do you mean by "A roots and branch approach"?
  We are not all at your level, massa.

  Define your terms:
  What do you mean by "A roots and branch approach"?
  We are not all at your level, massa.

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• Paul Amuna 12 years ago

  'Roots and Branch' simply means you tackle the problems from the base all the way to the top. At the 'roots' you find the underlying causes of the systemic issues and at the bracnhes you identify how it is spreading, what is ...
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  'Roots and Branch' simply means you tackle the problems from the base all the way to the top. At the 'roots' you find the underlying causes of the systemic issues and at the bracnhes you identify how it is spreading, what is causing it to get worse.
  
  Capacity Development will tackle issues around the 'root' which include infrstructure, roads, equipment etc; issues which the health minister highlighted at the forum.
  Capacity building will deal with issues of the branches including human resource training, research, morale-boosting incentives for health sector workers and a clear line of progression for both vertical and lateral mobility within the service.
  
  I hope I haven't made it more complex to understand.

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• AKONFEM MAHANI 12 years ago

  THE LAND IS RICH BUT THE PEOPLE ARE POOR

  THE LAND IS RICH BUT THE PEOPLE ARE POOR

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• insight to the bone 12 years ago

  you are as dum, twisted and confused as your name!!! i know you are suffering from the withdrawal of npp weed cocaine and other drugs!!! fool!!!!!!!!!!! die as stupid as u r!!

  you are as dum, twisted and confused as your name!!! i know you are suffering from the withdrawal of npp weed cocaine and other drugs!!! fool!!!!!!!!!!! die as stupid as u r!!

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• DAN 12 years ago

  You prove that GOD gave the monkey a bigger brain than his cousin the black man..

  You prove that GOD gave the monkey a bigger brain than his cousin the black man..

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• JH New York 12 years ago

  Those in govt enjoyed a privilege out of the Country healthcare,paid for by the Taxpayer in case of any Serious ill health; therefore the leadership over the years refused to this day to fix the problem.
  So,not until govt en ...
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  Those in govt enjoyed a privilege out of the Country healthcare,paid for by the Taxpayer in case of any Serious ill health; therefore the leadership over the years refused to this day to fix the problem.
  So,not until govt endeavor to Scrap that discriminatory nonsensical against their own people from the national budget,healthcare in Ghana would continue to be nothing to write home about.
  They simply refused to equip the Hospitals to acceptable Standards.Ghana is a pathetic pitiful Story.From the President to whatever should be made to use the local Hospital henceforth.
  
  "If wishes were horses beggars would ride "

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• JH New York 12 years ago

  Leadership problems in the Country Cries out the beloved Motherland !.

  Leadership problems in the Country Cries out the beloved Motherland !.

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• evababy30 12 years ago

  Hi How are you today ? . My name is Miss Eva , i want us to be friends and that is why i am contacting you , if you accept my friendship then write me on (evababy30@hotmail.com) so that i will send you my pictures and details ...
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  Hi How are you today ? . My name is Miss Eva , i want us to be friends and that is why i am contacting you , if you accept my friendship then write me on (evababy30@hotmail.com) so that i will send you my pictures and details about myself and know you too . I wait for your reply to my email .Thanks. Miss Eva .

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• OBLITEY KOMEY JAGUAR 12 years ago

  PROFESSOR1!! TELL US SOMETHING NEW.
  
  WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING & DOES NOT NEED THE IMPUT OF A PROFESSOR
  
  USE YOUR PROFESSORSHIP TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS - NOT COMING TO TELL US THINGS WE ALL KNOW!! ANOTHER - PULL HIM ...
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  PROFESSOR1!! TELL US SOMETHING NEW.
  
  WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING & DOES NOT NEED THE IMPUT OF A PROFESSOR
  
  USE YOUR PROFESSORSHIP TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS - NOT COMING TO TELL US THINGS WE ALL KNOW!! ANOTHER - PULL HIM DOWN TIME WASTER.

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• EWURA AMA 12 years ago

  WE know about all these facts and numbers. What we need is a plan of action. Anybody has any ideas?

  WE know about all these facts and numbers. What we need is a plan of action. Anybody has any ideas?

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• NANA KUFUOR 12 years ago

  The plan of action is to ask doctors to attend to patients and hospital managers manage the hospital.

  The plan of action is to ask doctors to attend to patients and hospital managers manage the hospital.

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• Nii Sackey 12 years ago

  Oblitey, the professor not only diagnosed the problem but also provided solutions that will require dedicated and discipline people, not characters like you, to carry out

  Oblitey, the professor not only diagnosed the problem but also provided solutions that will require dedicated and discipline people, not characters like you, to carry out

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• Spiky 12 years ago

  A working system works not because the system is par excellence; it is primarily as a result of the calibre of the network of people who are charged with the responsibility to make the system work. It has to do partly with ca ...
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  A working system works not because the system is par excellence; it is primarily as a result of the calibre of the network of people who are charged with the responsibility to make the system work. It has to do partly with capacity, the know-how; attitude to work; love for doing what they have to do and for the person or persons who are to benefit from what they are doing; love of one's country, interpreted to mean patriotism and loyalty; level of responsibility, truthfulness, creativity, vision, hard work etc. I am not sure within and without the health system you can count a hundred people who fit this characterisation in Ghana. If we have a hundred of such men and women in each of the sectors - health, education, transport and communication, trade and industry, science and technology etc - we will be living in paradise, more than 50 years after independence.

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• tony germany 12 years ago

  IT is a fact that Ghana health delivery Needs much Attention very appaling nurses and doctors Response to patients hmmmmm eye asem ooo.Having experience Scenes whilst on Holidays in Ghana makes me difficult to decide on comin ...
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  IT is a fact that Ghana health delivery Needs much Attention very appaling nurses and doctors Response to patients hmmmmm eye asem ooo.Having experience Scenes whilst on Holidays in Ghana makes me difficult to decide on coming down for good.Lots of talking with nothing been tackled.

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• Nelson Ntiamoah 12 years ago

  Congrats Ghanaweb for this insightful package that borders on a critical area of the Ghanaian economy - health. Believe it or not the statistics presented by Prof is not only revealing but a fact of the realities. We joke wit ...
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  Congrats Ghanaweb for this insightful package that borders on a critical area of the Ghanaian economy - health. Believe it or not the statistics presented by Prof is not only revealing but a fact of the realities. We joke with everything as a country particularly when it comes to health. Over 50 years after independence, a doctor must still send a patient to go for his/her medical card from a highly bureaucratic records unit. What the hell will it take to computerize and network major health facilities? Politicians and unqualified political citizens are killing our nation...just read comments up here and even the ordinary citizen is doomed to comment only from a myopic political angle. We must be joking!

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• kusi 12 years ago

  Ask this idiot who appear CNN and was talking what he don't and lying to the whole world. prof get away and give us a break

  Ask this idiot who appear CNN and was talking what he don't and lying to the whole world. prof get away and give us a break

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• R.Y.M-A 12 years ago

  The Prof generalized abit, but he is right. The SYSTEM FALURE can be 1.) Black outs-bad electricityuy system.2.) Bad inefficient Data collection, storage, retrieval processing. and 3.Human inability to cope. ICT in the Wester ...
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  The Prof generalized abit, but he is right. The SYSTEM FALURE can be 1.) Black outs-bad electricityuy system.2.) Bad inefficient Data collection, storage, retrieval processing. and 3.Human inability to cope. ICT in the Western world have not impproved their Healthcare. The NHS in England is reeling downwards.

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• km agyin 12 years ago

  Well said prof, but you did not suggest solutions to these problems namely the poor service and unacceptable doctor-patient ratio. The UK has a doctor-patient ratio of 1:500, Kenya 1:3000, an acceptable level.I think the main ...
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  Well said prof, but you did not suggest solutions to these problems namely the poor service and unacceptable doctor-patient ratio. The UK has a doctor-patient ratio of 1:500, Kenya 1:3000, an acceptable level.I think the main cause of our low standard healthcare delivery is the inadequate number of doctors in the country. The obvious solution to this is to train more doctors by setting up more medical schools. My simple calculation tells me that we need to produce 6000 doctors within 5 years (1200 per year)(we currently produce less than 800 per year from our 3 medical schools) to reduce this present ratio to 1:2000 which an acceptable level.

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• asher 10 years ago

  my email: asher@jumper-medical.com.A variety of medical equipments like blood pressure monitor , patiment monitor , pulse oximeter , fetal doppler , digital non-contact thermometer and so on are offered by our manufactory in ...
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  my email: asher@jumper-medical.com.A variety of medical equipments like blood pressure monitor , patiment monitor , pulse oximeter , fetal doppler , digital non-contact thermometer and so on are offered by our manufactory in China. We can improve your competitive.

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