Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has held discussions with a delegation from the Global Fund on measures to improve the availability of essential health commodities and strengthen major healthcare programmes in Ghana.
The Global Fund delegation was led by Mark Eldon Edington, Head of the Grant Management Division.
The meeting focused on key issues including Ghana’s co-financing commitments, procurement of medical supplies, clearance of health commodities and the long-term sustainability of programmes targeting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
Ghana and Global Fund Discuss Healthcare Priorities
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh expressed appreciation to the Global Fund for its longstanding support towards Ghana’s healthcare sector.
The Health Minister, however, called for stronger alignment between donor-supported health programmes and the government’s priorities, particularly the Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
He said closer coordination would help ensure that external health support contributes effectively to Ghana’s broader healthcare delivery objectives.
Ghana Makes Progress on Global Fund Co-Financing
On Ghana’s co-financing obligations, Minister Akandoh said the country had made significant progress under the Global Fund’s seventh grant cycle (GC7).
According to the Minister, approximately US$38.5 million, representing 85% of Ghana’s US$45 million commitment, had already been committed.
He added that steps were being taken to establish a dedicated budget line for selected health programmes as part of efforts to strengthen sustainable domestic financing for healthcare.
Global Fund Raises Concerns Over Medical Supply Shortages
Mark Eldon Edington welcomed Ghana’s progress but raised concerns over stock-outs of essential health commodities, procurement inefficiencies and delays in clearing medical supplies at the ports.
He stressed the importance of implementing both immediate and long-term measures to prevent recurring shortages and ensure that essential medicines and health commodities are available when needed.
The concerns are particularly important for health programmes addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which depend on reliable access to essential medicines and other medical commodities.
Health Ministry Introduces Measures to Speed Up Clearance
In response to the concerns, Hon. Akandoh said the Ministry of Health had introduced measures aimed at speeding up the clearance of essential health commodities arriving in Ghana.
Among the measures is the completion of shipping documentation before consignments arrive at the ports, which is expected to reduce delays in the clearance process.
The Ministry is also increasing competition among clearing agents as part of efforts to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks in the supply chain.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Quality Healthcare
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh assured the Global Fund delegation that the Ministry of Health remained committed to addressing challenges affecting the availability of essential medical supplies.
He said the government would continue working to ensure the timely availability of essential health commodities to support quality healthcare delivery across Ghana.
The engagement highlights the importance of sustainable healthcare financing, efficient procurement systems and reliable medical supply chains in strengthening Ghana’s health sector and improving access to essential healthcare services.
Source: newsthemegh.com