Report by: Ben LARYEA
The Minister for Health, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has indicated that, all Ghanaians must have timely access to high quality health services irrespective of their ability to pay at the point of medical services based on the principle of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) that everyone, everywhere must have access to quality essential health services without sufferinng any financial hardship.
Speaking at a forum via zoom, he said the world celebrates the International Unviersal Health to raise awareness of the need for strong, equitable and resilient health systems, adding it is a goal that cuts across all health targets across the world.
The theme for this year 2020 UHC Day celebration was: “Health for all: Protect Everyone,” with the overall goal and an action plan for government to enhance a UHC road map for achieving the framework by the year 2030 with various stakeholders.
The UHC roadmap is backed by three key objectives and includes universal access to a better, efficiently managed high quality primary health system, reduce avoidable maternal adolescent and child deaths and disabilities as well as increase access to responsive clinical and public health emergency services.
According to him, strong, equitable system grounded in primary health care and human rights are essential in upholding the tenets of UHC which enhances sustainable development and improving performance of health systems for the citizenry.
Adding that, government have put in place strong health systems which are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring good standards of health.
As well as equitable outcomes for all because the country have indeed made tremendous progress in providing access and bridging financial barriers to healthcare delivery.
He said the reforms of the National Health Insurance scheme have helped reduced catastrophic and out of pocket expenditure, impacting accountability on health services.
For his part, the USAID Health, Population and Nutrition Office Acting Director, Mr. Stephen Dzisi acknowledged that, Ghana have made tremendous progress in the health sector as the Ministry of Helath is disseminating the roadmap for attaining Universal Health Coverage by the 2020 to 2030.
He therefore assured stakeholders in the health sector for the contineous support of healthcare delivery and access across the country.
Source: www.thewnewindependentonline.com
