Upgrade District Hospitals to referral centre status

Kumasi, June 6, GNA - Dr Joseph Bonney, Head of Clinical Care of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in Ashanti, has called for the upgrading of all district hospitals in the country to the status of a referral centre.

This, he said, was necessary to enable them cope with the expected increase in clinical attendance when the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) finally takes off.

Dr Bonney who is the Co-ordinator of the NHIS in the region, was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi on how ready the health facilities were towards the implementation of the insurance scheme.

He said it was important that Ghanaians work to promote the success of the NHIS, adding that, the GHS was doing everything possible to get Health personnel well positioned to deliver quality care. Dr Bonney said it was in line with this that the GHS had been organising series of workshops and in-service training for the health staff.

"Let us all accept to avoid doing politics with the NHIS and assist to ensure its success so that the very poor and the socially disadvantaged also enjoy quality health care," he added.