The National Health Insurance Scheme will now cover mental health services, as announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
In an Accra meeting with doctors and surgeons, he underlined the importance of mental health as a shared responsibility.
He emphasized that having specialized physicians available in hospitals across the country is essential to guaranteeing universal coverage.
“Next year, mental healthcare will be added to the benefits package on the National Health Insurance Scheme. We recognize, however, that the key to achieving the target of universal health coverage is the availability of specialists to serve in all hospitals in the country. It is about time we begin to set our targets higher,” he said.
To ensure that Ghana achieves its objectives for universal health coverage, the president called for strong cooperation amongst the country’s various health professional associations.
“Ghana can accomplish these goals, which the developed world where physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers migrate can accomplish,” he declared.
In order to make sure that we also meet this goal, he continued, “the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, the Ghana Health Service, and the Ministry of Health must work together.”
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com