Dr Thomas Justice Savugu, National Chairperson of the District Directors of Health Services Group, has appealed to the government, through the Ministry of Health, to employ more administrative staff in the districts, to enhance healthcare delivery efficiency.
Speaking at the group’s 32nd Annual General Conference in Kumasi, Dr. Savugu highlighted critical challenges facing the health sector.
The Conference was under the theme: “Enhancing Health Security in Ghana: Innovation, Preparedness and Workforce Wellbeing for a Sustainable Healthcare”.
He mentioned administrative staff shortage as a major challenge and pleaded for more to support effective work output in districts.
According to him, despite yearly budget preparations, they receive less than 1% of budget estimates, hindering daily operations.
He alleged that funds often earmarked for specific programmes did not cover broader administrative needs, while the youngest vehicles at district level are over five years old, affecting service delivery.
Dr. Savugu noted that addressing communicable diseases, COVID-19 impacts and system vulnerabilities call for action and the need of preparedness plans, innovation, logistics and funding for resilient health systems.
He stressed collective effort for health security, innovation to address immediate challenges.
Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, Ashanti Regional Director of Ghana Health Services (GHSs), expressed the importance of collaboration among district directors’ dedication amid constraints.
He reminded the participants that the conference must not be ordinary annual meeting, but reflect on health system, share ideas on past challenges, forge strategies shaping future health delivery and discuss innovations and action plans for strengthened health systems.
