Better Care, Better Health: Optimizing Healthcare Provision in Ghana

Abstract

As enshrined in Article 16 of the African Union’s Charter for Human Rights, also known as the Banjul Charter, “every individual shall have the right to enjoy the best attainable state of physical and mental health.” [1] Ensuring that every African enjoys a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being has proven to be an uphill battle for many national governments, as evinced by the alarming human development indicators that have characterized the continent since its decolonization era in the mid-20th century. In Ghana, a country in the western region of Africa, actualizing this right as a signatory of the Banjul Charter has been a significant feat since the late 1990s. Due to the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme in 2003, along with related policies in maternal and child health care, Ghana has seen a marked improvement in the provision of healthcare for all of its citizens as indicated by health outcomes that are comparatively better than other African countries. Nevertheless, systemic barriers and challenges still exist that impede the quality of, and access to, healthcare. An examination of these constraints and their social costs show the need to alleviate the burden and bottlenecks they cause. From this examination it is clear that a comprehensive approach entailing reforms and innovations geared towards bolstering accountability, monitoring and evaluation, and the retention of Ghana’s health workforce could optimize healthcare provision in Ghana.