Health News of Friday, 1 December 2017

Source: kasapafmonline.com

Health Service Administrators caution government against Capping Policy

Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Minister of Health Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Minister of Health

The Associations of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG) has cautioned government against the newly introduced policy placing a cap on Internally Generated funds(IGF) of some government institutions including health facilities.

Under the new Policy, the institutions will not retain all their internally generated Funds.

AHSAG believes this Policy will deepen the already stressful financial conditions of health facilities in the country which would lead to total collapse of the health system, therefore, has called on government to insulate the health facilities from the Policy.

Speaking in Koforidua during the 41st Annual Conference of the Association, the outgoing President of AHSAG, Albert Asiedu -Ofei said:”Even though it would be said the policy is not yet fully operational in the health sector, caution must be taken from the numerous petitions against its implementation as submitted by various stakeholders, including AHSAG.

As a professional Association, whose members manage health facilities, AHSAG position is that, the implementation of the policy will ultimately lead to the total rundown of the already weak finances of health institutions.”

The Association also cautioned against partisan influence in the health bill when the bill becomes operational.

“Such approach will lead to the exhibition of apathy on the part of other staff who will feel marginalized. The team building approach which is very necessary for the attainment of the SDGs will therefore not be achieved in the health sector- simply put the center will not hold,” he said.