'Capitation, Failed Policy'

Dr.K O Odusei addressing Press.

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has called for the immediate suspension of the implementation of the capitation in the health sector as a means of payment for medical services rendered by health institutions in the country.

According to the GMA, the implementation of the scheme in the Ashanti Region on a pilot basis for three years has failed woefully and so replicating it in other regions will be disastrous to the nation, especially in the three Northern Regions where poverty is endemic.

It therefore called for an immediate halt to plans to implement the scheme in the Northern Region, noting that it has the potential of worsening healthcare delivery in the region which is already challenged.

On the Ebola epidemic, the GMA said the country was ill prepared for any eventuality as equipment, necessary logistics and measures have not been put in place to effectively handle any Ebola case.  It stated that this puts the Northern Region in a precarious situation as it shares borders with neighbouring countries that have recorded some Ebola cases.

The Ghana Medical Association at a press conference addressed by its President, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei, at the end of the association's 4th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Tamale over the weekend called for pragmatic steps in addressing health concerns in the country.

Tier 2 Pensions Scheme
The GMA expressed its displeasure at the manner in which government was handling the Tier 2 pension of its members and called for the immediate transfer of members' contributions to the Health Sector Occupational Pension Scheme which has been duly registered, licensed and approved by the National Pensions Regulation Authority (NPRA) in line with the Pensions Act 2008, Act 766.

The President of the Association stated that the GMA was in full support of the position of Organised Labour on the Tier 2 pensions for public sector workers and was prepared to participate fully in all the activities of Organised Labour to press home its demand for proper management of the Tier 2 pensions for the benefit of the working population.

According to the GMA, some members who are beneficiaries of the Pensions Act 2008, Act 766 will be retiring in January, 2015; yet they do not know how much they have contributed or how much benefits have accrued to them—a situation, he noted, did not motivate doctors in the country.

National Health Insurance Scheme
On the National Health Insurance Scheme, the GMA called on government and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to as a matter of urgency take steps to reimburse monies owed by the various insurance schemes to the health facilities concerned, to ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery in the country.

He admitted that most health institutions relied heavily on NHIA funds to finance their activities and provide efficient health service to clients, adding that delays in payment for services rendered will affect the facilities negatively and result in the implementation of the cash and carry system by some health institutions.

Cholera Outbreak
The GMA said the recent cholera outbreak in the country was the worst in recent times and advised Ghanaians to take the necessary precautions, including proper personal hygiene, to ensure they are not affected by the disease.

The Association also appealed to the public health units of the various health facilities in the country to be proactive by embarking on massive health education campaigns to stem the spread of the disease.

The GMA noted that it is regrettable that for the past five years the country has been recording cholera outbreaks due to the poor sanitation situation in the country, disclosing that about 50 percent of Ghanaians have no access to toilet facilities, 25 percent practise open defecation and more than 97 percent of all sewerage systems in the country are non-functional according to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD). The GMA therefore called on government to roll out a comprehensive programme on how to prevent cholera in the country.

Unsubstantiated Medical Adverts
The Association expressed worry about what they termed as escalating unsubstantiated advertisements in both the print and electronic media and called on managers of media houses not to allow their platforms to be used by people whose claims are not scientific and most often create complications for patients.

From Stephen Zoure, Tamale