By Solace A. DORNYO
The Ghana Medical Assistants Association (GMAA) has raised concern about the huge disparity in the fees paid to district hospitals and health centres by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for out-patient department (OPD) services.
The association has therefore appealed for a review of the fees to enable the centres and other rural facilities to cope with the rise in prices of materials for OPD services, and also generate enough revenue to support their operations.
The NHIA pays GH¢1.90 for general OPD services on each patient, who visits a health centre and GH¢4.90 for those who attend a district hospital.
The president of GMAA, Chief Imoro Azumah, observed that the low amount of money received by the health centres for the same OPD services provided in district hospitals were not only discriminatory and unfair, but also against the principles of justice.
He also expressed concern about the lip-service that was often paid to rural health care delivery.
He said the health centres, which catered for the health needs of majority of people in rural areas, were sidelined in terms of provision of equipment, personnel and facilities.
Chief Azumah, who is also medical assistant at the Abuakwa Government Health Centre, pointed out that they were the pivot of health care delivery in the rural areas and there was therefore the need for conscious efforts to be made to assist them to optimize their operations.
The capacities of medical assistants and other health personnel in rural areas should not only be developed, but they should also be motivated with incentive packages, he stated.
Chief Azumah expressed concern about what he said was the appalling state of affairs and facilities at the Rural Health Training School at Kintampo, and appealed to the government to help change the situation.
The Ghana Medical Assistants Association (GMAA) has raised concern about the huge disparity in the fees paid to district hospitals and health centres by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for out-patient department (OPD) services.
The association has therefore appealed for a review of the fees to enable the centres and other rural facilities to cope with the rise in prices of materials for OPD services, and also generate enough revenue to support their operations.
The NHIA pays GH¢1.90 for general OPD services on each patient, who visits a health centre and GH¢4.90 for those who attend a district hospital.
The president of GMAA, Chief Imoro Azumah, observed that the low amount of money received by the health centres for the same OPD services provided in district hospitals were not only discriminatory and unfair, but also against the principles of justice.
He also expressed concern about the lip-service that was often paid to rural health care delivery.
He said the health centres, which catered for the health needs of majority of people in rural areas, were sidelined in terms of provision of equipment, personnel and facilities.
Chief Azumah, who is also medical assistant at the Abuakwa Government Health Centre, pointed out that they were the pivot of health care delivery in the rural areas and there was therefore the need for conscious efforts to be made to assist them to optimize their operations.
The capacities of medical assistants and other health personnel in rural areas should not only be developed, but they should also be motivated with incentive packages, he stated.
Chief Azumah expressed concern about what he said was the appalling state of affairs and facilities at the Rural Health Training School at Kintampo, and appealed to the government to help change the situation.
Comments