The Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFAoG) has called for increased backing from government to strengthen collaborations with the private health sector to improve healthcare delivery in the country.
They made this call at the 4th Annual General Conference of the association, held from September 18 to 20, 2024, at the Baca Hotel and Event Centre in Koforidua.
The event, themed “Adopting a Data-Driven Decision-Making Culture as a Tool to Create a Responsive Healthcare System in Ghana: The Role of Private Health Facilities”, was attended by notable figures from both the public and private health sectors.
PHFAoG leaders emphasized the need for a data driven decision making approach to improve health outcomes, resource allocation, and service delivery.
They also pointed out gaps in the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2), particularly in the private sector’s ability to access and utilize data for decision-making.
Although the private health sector is the second-largest provider of healthcare services after the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Association noted that restrictions on data use have hampered their ability to contribute effectively.
“The DHIMS2 (District Health Information Management System) which provides a repository of health data for analysis is fraught with several gaps compromising the sufficiency and quality in the data collection. This partly emanates from the widespread apathy in data reporting from the private health sector which happens to be the second largest healthcare provider after the Ghana Health Service (GHS)” they stated.
In a significant development, PHFAoG announced that, following advocacy efforts, the GHS has granted the association user access to the DHIMS2 system.
This they believe, will allow private health facilities have more control over their data reporting, improving the accuracy and completeness of health data across the country.
Another major issue raised by PHFAoG was the shortage of skilled healthcare professionals in the private sector.
They highlighted the difficulty in retaining trained health information officers and other essential personnel, many of whom leave for public or CHAG (Christian Health Association of Ghana) institutions after receiving additional training from private facilities.
“Most of the employees in the
private health sector who are trained in data management end up leaving the facilities at short notices with all the acquired skills and knowledge creating gaps in the data reporting effort by these facilities. For the country’s data reporting to achieve satisfactory completeness and timeliness, private health facilities are encouraged to report their service data on the DHIMS2 to give a true picture of our contribution to health service provision in Ghana”.
They called on the government to support the private sector by including them in financial clearance processes for healthcare workers and extending other support systems.
Some dignitaries who were present at the conference are: Nana Osei-Bonsu Sempeh II, Oyokohene and Adontenhene of New Juaben; Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, Presidential Advisor on Health; Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Deputy Minister of Health; Dr. Philip Bannor, Registrar of the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA); and Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).