Parliament has adopted Health Committee’s report and approved the sum of GH¢6,587,092,478.00 for the activities of the Ministry of Health for the 2020 Fiscal Year.
In 2020, the Ministry plans to launch and implement among other things the National Action Plan for Heath Security and put in place the institutional framework for the Ghana Centre for Disease Control to address public health emergencies.
Presenting the committee’s report on the Floor, the Chairman of the Health Committee, Dr. Kwabena Twum-Nuamah reminded the MPs that, “to improve essential services at deprived areas, the government launched the drone service in April 2019 at Omenako, in the Eastern Region and in October, 2019, the 2nd drone distribution centre was also launched at Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region”.
He said as at 10th October, over 1,000 flights and 5,000 products had been delivered from the first site in Omenako.
The 3rd and 4th centres are to be established at Wulongo near Walewale and Sefwi Wiawso respectively and they were expected to be completed by the end of 2019, he added.
In 2020, the Drone project will be rolled out nationwide to ensure that the essential service delivery of blood and medical products are extended to deprived areas of the Country, Dr. Twum-Nuamah disclosed.
“As part of government quest to reduce regional disparities and bring service closer to the people, the upgrade of Tamale Teaching Hospital Works was completed and commissioned for use in February.”
“The construction of a district hospital at Kwabenya was completed and handed over in September, five (5) Polyclinics at Sege, Obojo, Ashaiman, Bortianor and Oduman were also completed and commissioned.”
The Committee in its report observed that about 70% of the doctors in Ghana are stationed in Accra and Kumasi and it finds the situation very appalling.
The Committee therefore, recommends to the Ministry of Health to, “as a matter of urgency devise a policy that will provide incentive package to encourage doctors to accept postings to deprived areas where their services are most needed”.
The Committee further recommends to the Ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for even distribution of qualified Doctors to rural areas.
Story filed by Edzorna Francis Mensah.
