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| The dignitaries and participants at the Conference. |
Amidst the rare funding gaps challenges confronting
the health sector, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), has shown
its readiness to find sustainable means of health funding.
Speakers at a two-day 48th Annual
Conference of the Association in Kumasi, have underscored the need to look at
ways of sustainable means of health funding in Ghana.
The Conference which brought together players in Health
care industry and member institutions of CHAG spread throughout the country,
was themed: Financial Sustainability of
CHAG at all Levels: How Can We Do Things Differently?
The Executive Director of CHAG, Mr. Peter K. Yeboah,
has expressed the need for all stakeholders of CHAG to contemplate feasible
local action to wean themselves from complaints and lamentations, and find
lasting means of health funding.
“It is time to explore prospects and potentials for
sustainable quality and compassionate health care in the midst of these challenges,”
he said, reiterating the need for CHAG to consolidate and expand her gains.
He re-echoed the essence for a refocused passion that
reflects the needs of clients and a renewed presence and rejuvenated purpose
that inspires clients, staff and community to push for more.
To develop financial sustainability in institutions, Rev.
Dr. Fred Deegbe, former General Secretary of Christian Council of Ghana, suggested
the development of a strategic and financial plans to guide the running of the
institutions.
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| Mr. Peter Yeboah commending Rev. Deegbe after delivering his address. |
He urged CHAG and its affiliate institutions to
develop income diversification, sound financial administration and sound
financial reporting regime, including periodic audit and project reports.
Rev. Deegbe in a keynote address, charged facilities to
develop business plans that will guide their growth, and entreated them to put
in place effective team management to enable them render quality service to
their clients.
Similarly, Prof. Stephen Addai, former Rector of
GIMPA, who expressed worry at the leakages in health systems, called on leaders
at health facilities and institutions to get their financial acts correct,
establish a rigorous human resource systems and ensure efficiencies in the
system in place.
Commenting on the indebtedness of the National Health
Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to CHAG facilities, Prof Addai, question why CHAG was
not having its insurance scheme, after pioneering the establishment of the National
Health Insurance Scheme.
He stated the need for the infusion of creativity and
innovation in solving challenges in CHAG member institutions, asking the body
to do full costing of every service they rendered.
Mr. John Alexander Ackon, Ashanti Regional Minister, said
financial sustainability involved an inward evaluations of expenditure,
investment of idle funds and the running of an effective financial management
systems.
He hinted that the National Health Insurance Authority
(NHIA) has settled a backlog of arrears of claims owed health facilities up to
November 2015, and added that the Ministry of Finance has also given clearance
for Ghana Health Service to employ more staff, who will soon be posted to some CHAG
facilities.
He advised CHAG to promote awareness of her existences
and interest people through public health campaign programmes for them to
practice preventive and healthy living lifestyles.
The Deputy Minister for Health, Dr. Victor Bampoe,
touched on the challenges the NHIS was facing, and noted that “we design a
system which has become a victim of its success,” but called on all
stakeholders including CHAG to work together as partners to address the
challenges bedevilling the scheme.
Barima Sarfo Tweneboah Kodua, Paramount Chief of
Kumawu, who represented the Asantehene, commended CHAG for the good works and
said “we all have a duty to protect and preserve its legacy”.
While calling for alternative sources of health
funding, the Paramount Chief also appealed to the Government to reconsider the
withdrawal of its support for service provision (subsidies for utilities) and
suspend the 15% it was charging the facilities.
Mr. Nathaniel Otoo, Acting Executive Secretary of
NHIA, who spoke on NHIS Sustainability: A Shared Responsibility; entreated
those handling the processing of NHIS claim forms at health facilities, to
exercise caution in the data entry in order to avoid mistakes.
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| A section of the participants |
Other presenters at the two-day Conference included
Mr. Zanu Dassah, who treated the topic: Basic Legal Concepts for Health
Managers, and Dr. Chris Atim who handled the topic: Financial Sustainability of
CHAG at all Levels; What Can We Do Differently?
CHAG is a network of Christian Health Service
Providers made of 291 Health Facilities and Training Intuitions from 25 Church
Denominations, established in 1967.
With a core mission to Jesus Christ’s healing
ministry, CHAG member institutions, mostly located in remote areas, have over
the years demonstrated the commitment to provide holistic health service to
all. It also seek partnership with all stakeholder including Government,
development partners, local collaborators and communities within which their
services are found.
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