History

2008-2010

As a critical Sector of the economy, the Ministry of Health seeks to improve the health status of all people living in Ghana therby contributing to Government's vision of tranforming Ghana into a middle income country by 2015.

The Ministry of Health, working in partnership with its agencies and stakeholders aims at improving the human capital thus "creating wealth through health" through the development and implementation of proactive policies that will ensure improved health and vitality.

2010-2012

Mr Alex Segbefia, the Minister of Health, has suggested the establishment of a special institute for scientific research into the esoteric aspect of traditional and complementary medicines.

He said it was equally important for traditional rulers and political authorities to dialogue with the keepers of shrines and cults to reveal at least some of the ancient esoteric and all of the exoteric knowledge base of their practices.

Mr Segbefia said this at the end of the 13th African Traditional Medicine Day and the celebration of the 16th Traditional Medicine Week of Ghana in Cape Coast.

The week-long celebration, on the theme: “Regulating Traditional Health Practitioners in the African Region,” was attended by more than 500 traditional medicine practitioners nationwide.

The Minister said it was imperative to put in place specific framework and modalities as soon as practicable for the protection of intellectual property rights of traditional medicine practitioners.

Mr Segbefia said it was time basic information on traditional and the other healthcare systems were introduced into the curriculum of the medical schools, the school of public health and the training institutions for other allied health professions.

He said over the years, the collaboration gap between conventional and traditional practitioners had been narrowing and countries across the region had expressed their commitment to integrate those practitioners into the mainstream healthcare delivery system.

Mr Segbefia said Ghana had a well-structured system for the delivery of traditional medical health practice to the public, adding that in 1991, the Ministry of Health set up a traditional medicine directorate to provide policy direction for the implementation of traditional medicine in the country.

2012-2015

The Ministry of Health has tasked a seven-member technical committee to review the current status of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and propose options for its reform.

The Technical Committee is also to find solutions to the recent financial challenges facing the Scheme.

The committee, chaired by Dr Chris Atim of the Africa Health Economics and Policy Association, would look at the status of the scheme, factors that have contributed to the status quo, what needs to be done, and responsibility for action.

The Committee is expected to submit a report to yet to be constituted Independent Advisory Committee which would include local and international experts, academia, legislators, civil society and service provider representatives.       

The Independent Advisory Committee would review and make recommendations as well as develop a blueprint for President John Dramani Mahama to take action and translate it into a sustainable, pro-poor, efficient and dynamic structure.

Mr Alex Segbefia, Minister of Health who inaugurated the committee, recounted the financial challenges the scheme has faced since 2009 impeding the attainment of universal health coverage.

He noted that the current scheme was funded mainly through tax revenues and statutory deductions and the current increasing high cost of health care has placed so much financial pressure on the scheme, adding: “Its growth and expansion needs to be explored to sustain the scheme.”

Mr Segbefia explained that the review would help improve service delivery and enable the scheme to deliver on its vision of becoming a sustainable, progressive and equitable social health insurance scheme in Africa and beyond.