The Ministry of Health (MOH) has inaugurated a Health Facility Regulatory Agency (HEFRA), Council to regulate the public and private health care facilities to enhance a healthy population.

Mr Alex Segbefia, Minister of the Sector said the country needs a health facility regulatory regime, which keeps pace with health sector development and exhibits robust monitoring of care provided by private and public facilities.

The 10- member council chaired by Mr Felix Anyah also has members from the Public Health Facility, National Health Insurance Authority, MOH, Attorney General’s Department, and Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.

Mr Segbefia noted that regulatory activities in the health sector have focused on client protection in availability of requisite human resource for health service delivery; availability of appropriate health products including pharmaceuticals, medical products and food and non-medical products as well as the enforcement of minimum prescribed standards for health facilities and services.

He said currently, the HEFRA is characterised by low registration and licensing of facilities with only an estimated 826 facilities having been accredited.

He told the Council to support and provide strategic direction to the incoming Registrar in the establishment of headquarters and zonal offices and the recruitment of competent staff and adopt a coherent organisational framework to underpin its work in regulation.

“It is my expectation that as a Board, you will not only provide constructive support to the incoming Registrar but that you will respect the fine line between day to day managing and your strategic and visionary role.

“I have no doubt that HEFRA has the potential to be financially self-sustaining under proactive and innovative leadership”, he said.

Mr Segbefia said other relevant regulators, whose roles have been ceded to the HEFRA, would be required to adequately support and cooperate with the Agency to execute its mandate appropriately.

The Council assured the Ministry of the preparedness of members to serve the nation and work hard to ensure the health safety of Ghanaians.