THE GHANA Medical Association has called on the Government to speed up processes which will lead up to a comprehensive National Cancer registry in Ghana.
A statement issued and jointly signed by the President and the General Secretary of the GMA, Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Adusei and Dr. Frank Serebour, during 55th annual General meeting of the association in Sunyani, also encouraged the GMA to hasten the establishment of the third Radiotherapy and Oncology Centre planned for the northern sector in Tamale Teaching Hospital to provide equal access to the diagnosis and management of cancers across the country.
'We also urge Ghanaians to make a routine annual health screening a habit to enable early detection of cancers', the GMA stated.
The meeting further called on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to as a matter of urgency increase its coverage of cancers to include all childhood cancers as well as the investigation leading to diagnosis of adult cancers under the scheme.
The GMA congratulated the NHIA on their 10 th anniversary and reminded it (NHIA) of the several challenges stirring the scheme in order to put in measures to address them.
'The NHIA should, as a matter of urgency, stop the capitation as mode of payment for providers in Ashanti region, the NHIA must review the pilot and ensure that the lessons learnt guide the Authority in the quest to rollout capitation nationwide,' it said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, the medical Superintendent of Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi and Dr. Frank Serebour of (KATH) have been re-elected as the President and General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association.
Other members elected for the two year-term of office are Dr. Ebenezer Ewusi-Ennim (Police hospital, Accra) as Vice President, Dr. Justice Yankson of Korle-Bu Hospital was elected as the assistant General Secretary, Dr. Mary Amoakoh-Coleman (Accra) as the treasurer; whilst Dr. Mary Dsane of VRA Hospital, Akosombo, and Dr. Edward Frimpong Boateng (Regional Hospital Koforidua) were elected as National Executive members.
Dr. Emmanuel Adom Winful still remains the immediate past president and a member of the National executive council.