President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced a significant development in Ghana's healthcare system, revealing plans to incorporate mental health treatment into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
This move aims to prioritize mental health as a crucial aspect of overall well-being.
Addressing a gathering of physicians and surgeons in Accra, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the need for collective efforts to address mental health concerns.
He highlighted the importance of specialists in achieving the goal of universal health coverage across all hospitals in the country.
“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,” the President stated.
President Akufo-Addo urged a collaborative approach among various health professional bodies in Ghana to ensure the success of the universal health coverage initiative.
“These targets, which are being achieved by the developed world where doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals migrate to, can be achieved by Ghana. 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 to ensure that we also achieve this target.”
