Government Achievements on HEALTH HEALTH > > Government is addressing the heaithcare needs of our people in a comprehensive manner. The infrastructure, equipment and personnel needs of the sector are ail receiving urgent attention. As far as infrastructure is concerned, the following projects have are being embarked upon to expand access to heaithcare in ail parts of the country. > > 1. The 600-bed University of Ghana Teaching Hospital > 2. The 420-bed Ridge Hospital Expansion Project > 3. The 500-bed Military Hospital Project in Kumasi > 4. The Second phase of the Tamale Teaching Hospital phase of the project > 5. The Police Hospital Project > 6. The Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua-Kumasi > 7. The Upper West Regional Hospital > > Other projects aimed at expanding access which have been completed include > > i. Nineteen out of the twenty-one Health Centres at the following locations; > Amasaman, Doffor, Pokukrom, New Jejeti, Paakro, Gwoiiu, Funsi, Sang, Buipe, Manso Nkwanta, Abuakwa, Mose, Sosokpe, Kedzi, Adamso, Kayoro, Timonde, Bonsu Nkwanta and Dadieso > > ii. Three District Hospitals under the same project have also been completed > Edjumako, Essam, Zabzugu District Hospitals. > > iii. . Construction of eye care centre at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. > > Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, government has a program of providing modern hospital equipment to enhance healthcare delivery. Christened the National Hospital Equipment Replacement Program, this initiative has ensured the construction and equipping of New MRI and CT Scan Centres in; the Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching Hospitals. > > The Korie Bu Teaching Hospital alone benefited from a $57 Million project to replace and rehabilitate obsolete equipment and theatres. Twelve operating theatres for Pediatric and General Surgery (which had been closed for nearly eight years), the Neo-natal intensive care Unit and the Baby unit were refurbished. > > Korle Bu also took delivery of Mammography, MRI,CT Scan ,X-ray machines and Oxygen plants. > > Under the same scheme, procurement and installation of new X-Ray Equipment in 40 selected > District Hospitals took place nationwide; these include, > > St. Peters Hospital, Jacobu-Ashanti Region > Mankranso District Hospital, Ashanti Region > St. Patrick Hospital, Offinso-Ashanti Region > Atebubu District Hospital, Brong Ahafo Region > Dormaa Municipal Hospital, Brong Ahafo Region > Holy Family Hospital, Duayaw Nkwanta- Brong Ahafo Region > Abura District Hospital, Central Region > Ajumako District Hospital, Central Region > Assin North Municipal Hospital, Central Region > Mfantsiman Municipal Hospital, Central Region > St. Martins Hospital, Eastern Region > Enyiresi District Hospital, Eastern Region > Weija Hospital, Greater Accra Region > Maamobi Polyclinic, Greater Accra Region > Pantang Psychiatric Hospital, Greater Accra Region > St Joseph Hospital, Nkwanta, Volta Region > Adidome Hospital, Volta Region > Dodi Papas! Hospital, Volta Region > Jasikan Government Hospital, Volta Region > Zebilla District Hospital, Upper East Region > Bongo District Hospital, Upper East Region > Lawra District Hospital, Upper West Region > St. Theressa Hospital, Nandom, Upper West Region. > > NHIS > > Ladies and gentlemen of the media, available data indicates that last year, out-patient utilization of the NHIS rose to 27. 4 my|ion from 16.6 million in 2009 and 597 thousand in 2005. Utilization here means the number of visits made to health facilities in the respective years on the account of the NHIS for only outpatient cases. This is positive because it reveals that our people now visit the hospitals often for their healthcare needs and therefore reflects the improved health seeking behaviour and outcomes of our people, > > The NHIA paid 748 million Ghana cedis in claims in 2013, compared to 362 million cedis and 7.6mi!lion cedis in 2009 and 2005 respectively. > > Even though, the growing utilization of services under the Scheme stretches the financial status of the scheme, government deems it important to continue to provide social protection for our people, especially those who need it. > > In order to strengthen the structures of the NHIS, incremental reforms are being carried out to position it to respond to the ever growing needs of Ghanaians population. These include; > > * The establishment of new Claims Processing Centres across the Country in 2010. Claims Processing Centres (CPC) have been established in Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast and Tamale. The centre in Accra takes care of claims from Greater Accra, Volta and Eastern Regions, whilst Tamale manages claims from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. Kumasi processes claims from Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions whilst Cape Coast serves the Central and Western Regions. > > Electronic submission of claims (e-Claims) has been introduced to deal with the logistical challenges associated with paper claims management. It is intended to boost efficiency in claims management, reduce cost of submission for providers, reduce cost of processing for the NHIA, and expedite the claims payment process, among other things. The piloting of e-Claims began in April 2013. > > As part of efforts to extend coverage to as many vulnerable groups as possible the NHIS as a social protection scheme that recognizes governments responsibility to provide financial protection against the cost of basic healthcare has initiated some programs to cover the vulnerable in society. > > Currently, persons under l8 years, pregnant women, LEAP beneficiaries, the aged, indigents, people in special homes such as the leprosaria and mental health homes constitute the exempt group under the scheme, they therefore do not pay premium. > > Last year, 1.2million people across the country were registered for free under this scheme. This compares with 393,000 the previous year. The Ministry of Health through the NHIA is collaborating with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to register 10,000 aged people in Greater Accra, Central and Eastern regions. The aged in La, Chorkor, Akoto Lante, Madina, Teshie, Ashaiman, Mirna and Nungua have been registered onto the NHIS for free under this program and more remains to be done. The exercise will be extended to other regions. >
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 09:45:03 +0000