Ghanaians to enjoy effective referral system

Mr. Rojo Mettle–Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health has called on Health institutions to change their attitude towards hospital care delivery and adhere to professional health referral system of their patients.

He said the referral chain of health institutions must be managed well by all to keep health delivery safe and urged that measures be put in place to stop the “no bed” syndrome.

Mr. Mettle–Nunoo made the call at the launch of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Referral Policy and Guidelines Document on Thursday in Accra.

He said the referral policy document would help maintain basic protocol chain, provide first aid and stabilize patients before any form of referral was made.

He said the vision of the MOH was to see Ghanaians living healthier lives and achieve their aspirations through the provision of accessible and affordable health care of the highest quality.

He noted that the aspiration of MOH was to have the referral of patients developed to a level where Ghanaians would be able to access an almost complete range of medical and surgical services, saying, the MOH care system had provided a range of health services for many years, with some being provided by visiting specialists.

He indicated that the referral system to the topmost level was an important conduit to meet the needs of the people since the rural or general health system currently could not viably provide for such myriad of ailments requiring that level of services.

Mr. Mettle–Nunoo mentioned the increasing number of patients with chronic diseases and complications such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, renal failure, stroke, as well as multiple injuries through road traffic accidents, majority of which were alcohol related.

He said it was the first time the Ministry had developed a National Referral Policy Guidelines that would set the direction for the future enhancement of the referral system, increase efficiency and access to quality, safe, seamless and sustainable services and improved population health outcomes.

He said the document outlines the current situation of the referral system, types of referrals and general principle of referrals as well as the issue of medical evacuation and international referrals out of the country.

He expressed concern about the Gate Keeper System and Free Maternal Care Policy, which if implemented would help improve the implementation of the NHIS in Secondary and Tertiary Hospitals as well as Specialized Facilities.

He called on Heads of Institutions, to as a matter of urgency to ensure that the policy guidelines were strictly adhered to in relation to referrals and provide basic first aid that would alleviate the sufferings of patients as well as controversies and challenges that bedeviled patient referrals would be a thing of the past.

Dr. Afisah Zakariah, Acting Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, who reviewed the document indicated that, the policy document included the current situation, definition and concepts of referrals, communication of patient care and transportation, feedback, medical evacuation/international referrals out of the country, internal and emergency referrals.

She said the document was compiled by experts from the MOH, National Fire Service, Ghana Health Service and stakeholders.**