By: Jennifer Frimpong Wiredu
A National Surgical, Obstetrics, and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) has been unveiled to improve healthcare outcomes in Ghana.
At the launch, the MP for Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah who stood in for the Minister of Health, underscored the importance of the NSOAP, describing it as a critical framework for the healthcare sector. He said the ministry’s commitment to this plan signals a significant step towards improving the quality and accessibility of surgical care, obstetrics, and anaesthesia services nationwide.
The National Surgical, Obstetrics, Anesthesia, Plan (NSOAP) provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing healthcare outcomes in Ghana.
The plan spans six domains: Infrastructure, Workforce, Service Delivery, Financing, Information Management, and Governance and Leadership, outlining goals, strategic objectives, interventions, activities, and indicators to guide the unit for the next five years.
The NSOAP prioritizes addressing disparities in access to SOTA care by investing in infrastructure at District, Regional, and Teaching Hospitals.
The MP for Oda Alexander Akwesi Acquahon behalf of the Minister of Health said, “The plan will be integrated into national policies, including the Health Sector Medium-Term Development Plan and the National Health Policy, to ensure a cohesive approach”.
The Chief Health Policy and Advocacy Officer of Operation Smile, Dr. Ruben Ayala said the launch of the plan will lay a solid foundation for a greater future in Ghana’s pursuit of quality healthcare delivery.
He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to ensure successful implementation.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, added that “infrastructure and logistic advancements are crucial to bolstering quality healthcare delivery in the country”.
This Plan of the MoH, arising from 68.15 will form the basis for policies over the next 5 years to achieve inclusion of surgical provision in the Universal HealthCare agenda by all MoH agencies who will own their portion.
