Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (GhNCDA) has made a case for the increment and optimization of budgetary allocations by increasing financial allocation to the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in Ghana.
They have also argued for the inclusion of more NCDs in the National Health Insurance (NHI) benefit package and a percentage of the excise tax revenue for NCD and mental healthcare earmarked in line with Goals 3 of the United Nations Sustainable Development agenda (SDG3).
The Alliance has also called for the removal of subsidies on harmful products like tobacco, alcohol; Sugar sweetened Beverages (SSBs), trans-fats, among others, so as to promote preventive health care nationwide.
Speaking at a capacity building seminar for media professionals and CSOS on the theme: accelerating UHC through the 2nd Global financing dialogue on NCDCs and Mental Health, perspectives on the UHC in the context of NCDS and mental health ahead of the 2GFD”, National Coordinator, GhNCDA, Labram Musah, suggested that, “Strengthening and increasing taxation on health-harming products, increase training for health professionals on NCDs and leverage on Public Private Partnerships for NCD and mental health care and financing,” will go a long way to reduce NCDs drastically in the country.
Labram Musah also called for “meaningfully involvement of CSO and People living with NCDs and mental health in decision-making, policy development, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, establish a comprehensive package of NCD Services and mental health under the NHIS.
“Improve and strengthen the primary healthcare facility, make the Big Polluters (Industries) pay for the damages they are causing, industry interferences in public health policies must be check to avoid conflict of interest and leverage on domestic innovative financing mechanism.
“Talking about the challenges impeding UHC in Ghana, the group enumerated the following; Increasing NCD burden; Inadequate investment in NCDs and Mental Health financing; Limited coverage and gaps in NCDs and mental health coverage under the NHIS; Out-of-pocket payment system; Less prioritization of preventive health care; Over-dependence on donor funding over domestic revenue mobilization; Inadequate health workers and infrastructure; Inequity in health resources allocation; Limited engagement of persons living with NCDs in healthcare delivery and decision-making to optimize healthcare services; Low awareness – prevention, treatment care and support and management.”
By Edzorna Francis Mensah