Gov’t urged to review policy on drugs under the NHIS

Members of the Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA), has appealed to the government to review the policy that prevents physician assistants from prescribing certain basic medications to patients under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Government should also review the tariffs paid on drugs to reflect the current high cost of medicines on the market.

Chief Imoro Azumah Bandana, the National President of the Association, who made the appeal, said most district hospitals and health centres in rural communities were collapsing due to the drug policy and low tariffs.

He was speaking at the 5th induction ceremony for the newly- elected national executive members of the Association, in Kumasi on Thursday.

Chief Bandana said out- patients attendance in health facilities manned by physician assistants were seriously going down because most NHIS subscribers prefer to travel long distances to access health care in facilities where medical doctors could prescribe the medicines to them under the scheme.

This situation, coupled with the low tariffs was seriously affecting the operations of rural health facilities and quality health care delivery in rural communities in the country.

Chief Bandana said most physician assistants were very experienced and capable of administering these basic medications to patients and there was the need for the Ministry of Health to take a second look at the policy.

The new national executive members, who were inducted, included Mr Alhassan Zakaria, Vice President, Alhaji Osmanu, General Secretary, Mr Mathew Ayamba, Vice General Secretary, Mr Peter Mintel Amadu, Financial Secretary, Mr Philip Quarshie, Public Relations Officer and Madam Vida Vumenu, Treasurer.

Dr Benjamin Akplapi, Lecturer at the Central University College, who chaired the occasion, said rural health care delivery was very important since majority of the people lived in that area and stressed the need for the state to build the capacities of physician assistants to sharpen their professional competencies to enhance health care delivery in rural communities.