By Abubakari Seidu Ajarfor
The Centre for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has started full operation at the campuses of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA).
The Centre, the first of its kind in Africa and perhaps the developing world has the goal to develop competencies, generate evidence and provide technical assistance.
The Minister of Education incharge of Tertiary education, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said there are concerns about NHIS on sustainability, collapse, capitation-all these depends on evidence based conclusion to infrom decisions and they have no doubt once these are made from a scientific institution like centre for UHC.
According to him, we need to desist from politicizing our health sector especially the NHIS on the mass media which may undermine the scheme with about 10million subscribers.
The Chief Executive of NHIA, Sylvester A. Mensah noted, the Centre for UHC is expected to close the knowledge gap on indigenous intellectual leadership for health financing, provide research and objective basis for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) policies, and develop human capital for implementing UHC policies in all its small dimensions.
He indicated that the centre will serve as an incubator for nurturing universal financial risk protection and UHC policies as well as provide insight into operational successes and challenges.
According to him, the centre is positioned to be a global centre of excellence in UHC with focus on education, research and consultancy.
He added, the vision is to generate knowledge and develop competences towards improving global health care financing systems with the intent to achieve, in the first instances, through such programs as continuing education, research and development, and consultancy services.
The Chief Executive indicated that the seed capital for the fund is the meeting of the minds between NHIS and UPSA.
He however indicated that US$100, 000 yet to be released from their developing partners, 3 used computers and administrator for the day to day administration of the centre have been provided.
UPSA offered a support by donating 3 offices for the centre, 3 official desk with chairs, two permanent resource persons for the centre.
This was a joint collaboration between the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and UPSA as an intellectual leadership and technical training centre to facilitate health financing, health policy reforms and the development of health insurance systems in Ghana, the Africa region and other lower middle income countries across the globe.
The establishment of Centre for Universal Health Coverage is pinned by an Akan axiom, ?Nea Onnim no sua a, ohu? which laterally means whoever hears and learn, finds knowledge.
NHIA: Difficulties means success
Sylvester Mensah explained that NHIS spends over GHC 3million everyday or over GHC 90million a month on healthcare bills for its members across the country, the majority of whom are in the low income and poverty brackets.
He mentioned that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is the cash cow sustaining the healthcare industry and supply chain in Ghana.
He said, the difficulties faced by many of their cherished healthcare providers as a result of arrears in reimbursements to their facilities is an indication of how important the NHIS is to the healthcare industry.
The Executive Officer of NHIA added, the healthcare facilities across the country admit that more than 85% of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) come from payments from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Mr. Mensah said the NHIS plays host to numerous foreign delegations, visiting to understudy the scheme, not to mention invitations to the NHIA to provide technical assistance to some of the countries seeking to put their health insurance arrangements in place.
He noted, the NHIS has become the focus of research by various individuals and institutions and has been cited for innovation and leadership by many reputable local and international institutions including the UN.
UPSA: Building momentum
University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) which recently attained the university status is continually gaining momentum in both academic and physical structures.
The Vice Chancellor of UPSA, Professor Joshua Alabi said UPSA has positioned itself to the world beyond research and teaching to solving problems.
He said, university?s has 3 centers such as the centre for public accountability headed by Dr. Albert Kan-Dapaah former chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Drolor centre for strategic leadership and Otumfour centre for traditional leadership to walk students through leadership and public accountability.
