Ghana Medical Association proposes dedicated fund for emergency care

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), the organisation that brings together the country's doctors, is calling for a dedicated and sustainable funding mechanism for emergency care, so that patients receive life-saving treatment without financial barriers. The proposal is among seven system-wide interventions presented by the association to close persistent gaps in emergency services and tackle "No-Bed-Syndrome", the recurring shortage of hospital beds, according to MyJoyOnline.

The GMA's general secretary, Dr Richard Salomey, told JoyNews, on the sidelines of the association's 68th annual general conference, that the government must identify a precise funding source. He suggests that part of the funds of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Ghana's public health insurance, be reallocated to this fund, and that a percentage of private vehicle insurance premiums also be devoted to it. According to him, this arrangement would guarantee hospitals reimbursement for the care provided while removing the financial burden from patients in emergencies. "Patients who need emergency care must receive the necessary treatment, with hospitals assured that the fund will reimburse them," he explained.

The GMA says it is open to contributing to discussions on the funding arrangements, leaving it to the government to choose the most appropriate mechanism.

The proposal adds to measures announced the previous day by the health authorities, which provide for 100 new ambulances and the expansion of four emergency departments in Ghana.