The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has shared that his ministry is working with the Employment and Labour Relations Ministry to create a policy to handle current and future migration challenges in the health sector.
Once completed, this Migration Policy will refine the processes for training, deployment, retention, and reintegration of Ghana’s health workforce to fulfill both local and global needs.
During a press briefing in Accra, Mr. Agyeman-Manu stated that the migration policy will operate within local and international frameworks for the deployment and reintegration of the health workforce.
The policy is also predicted to secure financial and intellectual gains from the overseas deployment of health professionals through mutually beneficial bilateral agreements.
The health minister acknowledged that the policy is a response to the ongoing migration in the health sector, a global problem that is not exclusive to Ghana and poses a significant challenge to the retention of health workers.
Despite the health sector’s challenges, he confirmed that the ministry has initiated steps to enhance the training, recruitment, and retention of healthcare workers in line with the government’s health sector priorities.
“Between 2019 and 2022, a total of 17,566 nurses comprising certificate, diploma and degree nurses were trained in about 90 Nursing and Midwifery Training Institutions in the country,” he said.
The Health Minister mentioned that they’ve hired and assigned 152,472 health professionals, predominantly nurses. The government is also partnering with a private investor to establish a Bio Equivalent Center, anticipated to launch by October’s end.
“With the center, we can do all trials for medicines made in Ghana and other medications manufactured and produced elsewhere for us in our hospitals,” he said.
The NHIS is doing well with 17.2 million active members. The goal for 2023 is 20 million. All NHIS providers are now trained in electronic claims submission.
“Currently, 90 per cent of providers submit claims electronically as against 40 per cent in 2022. This has significantly improved claims management resulting in GHS 97,618,036.24 of claims adjustment during vetting. Also, the turnaround time for claims vetting has been reduced from 76 days to 48 days,” he said.
The NHIS now includes family planning and four childhood cancers in its package, which is fantastic. The ministry is also introducing 12 health sector legislations to promote health and well-being.
SOURCE: Senali News Ghana
