The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is urging the government to establish a dedicated emergency healthcare fund to ease the financial burden on patients who require urgent medical attention but cannot afford treatment.
The proposed fund would ensure that hospitals are compensated for emergency services provided to patients who are unable to pay immediately, particularly in life-threatening situations.
Speaking to JoyNews after the Association’s 68th Annual General Conference, the GMA’s General Secretary, Dr Richard Salomey, said the government should consider creating a sustainable funding arrangement to support emergency care.
He suggested that part of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) allocation, as well as a percentage of private vehicle insurance premiums, could be considered as potential sources of funding.
According to the Association, such a mechanism would help ensure that financial constraints do not prevent patients from receiving timely emergency treatment.
The proposal is particularly relevant to people involved in road accidents and other medical emergencies, where delays in accessing treatment can have serious consequences.
The GMA believes a dedicated fund would help hospitals provide urgent care without making immediate payment a barrier for patients or their families.
Dr Salomey said the Association was prepared to contribute to discussions on the proposed funding model but maintained that the government must lead efforts to develop and implement a sustainable arrangement.
The Association says improving emergency healthcare requires more than expanding hospital beds and increasing the number of medical personnel.
It argues that a reliable financing mechanism is also necessary to ensure that patients can access urgent medical attention without the immediate burden of treatment costs.
The proposed fund would require further discussions on its financing structure, eligibility criteria, administration and accountability arrangements.