President John Dramani Mahama has called on African countries to take greater responsibility for protecting and strengthening their healthcare systems as the continent works towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
President Mahama made the call in Accra when he opened the 28th Annual Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA).
The five-day conference is being held under the theme, “Responsive Regulation for Safer Communities Towards Universal Health Coverage.” It focuses on the importance of effective healthcare regulation in improving patient safety and expanding access to quality healthcare across Africa.
Mahama Calls for Stronger Healthcare Regulation
President Mahama said African countries must strengthen medical regulation to keep pace with developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital healthcare and modern medical technology.
He noted that growing use of online medical consultations and digital health services requires updated regulatory standards to protect patients and maintain professional accountability.
The President outlined seven key areas for consideration by African medical regulators.
1. Harmonise Medical Regulations
President Mahama urged African countries to strengthen regulatory harmonisation through greater cooperation, reliable verification systems and appropriate recognition of professional qualifications without compromising healthcare standards.
2. Invest in Regulatory Science
He called for increased investment in regulatory science to ensure that decisions are based on evidence and that medical regulators have the expertise to respond to emerging technologies, changing healthcare workforce patterns and new risks.
3. Strengthen Health Data Systems
The President also advocated for secure health data exchange systems that allow timely sharing of information while protecting patient privacy and ensuring effective data governance.
4. Protect Health Professional Education
President Mahama stressed the importance of maintaining high standards in medical education and professional training.
He said the quality of future healthcare delivery depends heavily on the quality of training provided to health professionals today.
He therefore called for accreditation, examinations, internships, continuing professional development and ethical training to remain central to the education of doctors and other healthcare professionals.
5. Prepare for Health Emergencies
The President urged regulators to establish practical frameworks for humanitarian and fragile settings that can facilitate rapid emergency healthcare responses while maintaining professional standards and accountability.
6. Regulate Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health
President Mahama said African countries must urgently develop appropriate regulations for digital health and Artificial Intelligence.
He stressed the need for regulation that is practical, equitable and capable of addressing the opportunities and risks associated with emerging healthcare technologies.
7. Put Patients at the Centre
The President’s seventh point was the need to make patients and the public the focus of every healthcare regulatory decision.
He said the effectiveness of a medical regulator should not be measured by the number of licences issued but by how effectively it protects patients and the wider public.
Universal Health Coverage Requires Public Trust
President Mahama said achieving Universal Health Coverage in Africa requires more than access to healthcare services. It also requires public confidence in the quality, safety and integrity of healthcare delivery.
He stressed that citizens should be confident that healthcare professionals attending to them in clinics, hospitals, operating theatres or through digital platforms are competent, ethical and accountable.
He challenged the AMCOA conference to move beyond discussions and deliver practical results, including stronger partnerships, implementable healthcare policies, capacity-building programmes, improved information sharing and a renewed commitment to high professional standards.
President Mahama also called for a new phase of African health professional regulation, emphasising that patient safety should be treated as a continental responsibility.
Ghana Expands Healthcare Access
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the government is expanding Ghana’s healthcare system across the full continuum of care.
He said this includes Free Primary Healthcare, which focuses on disease prevention and essential health services, as well as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, which supports specialised and high-cost treatment for people living with chronic conditions.
The Minister said these initiatives form part of efforts to improve access to quality healthcare and strengthen Ghana’s health system.
Africa Must Increase Domestic Health Financing
Dr Anarfi-Asamoah Baah, a former Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), delivered the keynote address and called on African countries to increase domestic investment in healthcare.
He said stronger domestic health financing is necessary to protect the health of African populations and build resilient healthcare systems that can respond effectively to future challenges.
Prof Joel Okullo, President of AMCOA and Chairman of the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council, also emphasised the importance of healthcare regulation.
He said effective health regulation should be recognised as a central pillar of Universal Health Coverage, particularly as African countries seek to improve patient safety, healthcare quality and public confidence in medical services.
Source: newsthemegh.com