Absence of policy affect healthcare technology -Expert

Accra, Aug. 7, GNA- The absence of uniformed and clear policy on health care technology has contributed to the inadequate health care delivery in the country.

This has impacted negatively on the performance of health facilities, leading to the non-availability of appropriate equipment at the right place and time.

Dr. Nicholas Adjabu, Deputy Director, Clinical Engineering Department of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) made this observation at the opening of a two-day seminar on Healthcare Technology Management in Ghana, Challenges and Strategies on Tuesday.

Dr. Adjabu explained that the concept of healthcare technology in Ghana started with the teaching hospitals in the mid 1950s where maintenance of buildings was undertaken by Public Works Department but was expanded to cover the entire country.

He said technical units had been established at all levels of management to help in planning, decision-making, acquisition, maintenance and disposal of medical devices and found in the Ministry of Health, GHS headquarters, regional health directorates, teaching hospitals, regional hospitals and selected districts hospitals. "Unfortunately, there are no established management systems at the district, sub-district and district hospital levels. These management levels are supported by the system at the regional health directorate level", he added.

He noted that regulatory bodies such as Food and Drugs Board, Radiation Protection Board and Ghana Standards Board were available to regulate healthcare technology.

He said a memorandum of understanding had been signed with Radiation Protection Board to ensure compliance, whilst regulatory bodies were yet to develop the capacity in healthcare technology to ensure public safety and protection.

Dr. Edward Addai, Director Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation of the Ministry of Health said healthcare technology was a key component in the five- year Programme of Work which began this year and needed to strengthen the areas of health infrastructure. Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), Minister of Health called for the need for health professionals to distinguish between health care and medical care.

He said the perception of quality healthcare depended on the number of health personnel and equipment available in every facility and called for the need to re-organise the department and develop the policy. Dr. Joachim Saweka, World Health Organisation Country Representative said health technology was one of the most neglected components of healthcare in Africa and must be addressed to achieve the aim of good health for the poor.

Dr Elias Sory, Director-General of GHS, who chaired the function reiterated the need to re-organise the department to ensure the development of the policy for quality health care.

The seminar, organised by the GHS and Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation would discuss global perspective of healthcare technology and infrastructure, regional perspective of healthcare technology and infrastructure, strategies and tools available for improving healthcare technology and infrastructure management in Ghana.

Participants would also discuss and the draft of an action plan to address specific needs of Ghana, planning for healthcare technology in the context of the Five-Year Programme of Work and its challenges. 07 Aug. 07