A 5-Day training workshop organised by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in partnership with the Christian Health Association of Ghana – CHAG and PharmAccess Foundation has kicked off in Sunyani in the Bono Region .
The NHIA and CHAG are looking at piloting Value Based Care (VBC) for a year with 60 hospitals and 120 patients per facility in 5 regions and the outcome will inform a national scale up.
Healthcare Providers mostly from faith-based Catholic background under CHAG were taken through the concept of VBC with emphasis on creating value in outcomes for patients with hypertension and diabetes.
Dr. Peter Yeboah, Executive Director CHAG who chaired the program emphasised on the importance of VBC and the shared value that it presents to NHIA as the payer of healthcare services, providers and most importantly patients who are expected to receive a more human-centered approach in treating their conditions.
Mr. Oswald Essuah-Mensah, the Ag. Director Corporate Affairs, NHIA affirmed Management’s support of the program and hinted that VBC will encourage the use of data analytics through technology to gain insight in disease prevalence and patterns that will better inform the NHIA on how to effectively allocate its scarce resources.
He confirmed that the NHIA currently pays claims based on volumes but will now have the opportunity to pay providers based on the quality of outcomes for patients treated.
He further intimated that data available indicates that one out of four Ghanaians is hypertensive, out of which 30% are aware, 22% are on treatment and only 6% are controlled and that due to high hypertension cases in the country, the Value-Based Care system will be focusing on hypertension.
‘We believe that VBC will provide Ghanaians with quality and equitable access to basic health care when implemented successfully’ he added.
The Minister for Health, Hon Kwaku Agyeman – Manu, attended the training workshop and offered encouragement and support for the program.
Also in attendance were Dr. Peter K. Yeboah (Executive Director, CHAG), Dr. James Duah (Deputy Executive Director, CHAG) who moderated the program, Dr. Yaw Opoku Boateng, Dep. Director, Data Analytics, NHIA, Dr. Gifty Sunkwa Mills & Mr. Alex Attachy both from Pharmaccess Foundation.
The participants also included medical doctors, hospital administrators and managers from various CHAG facilities.
The NHIA Regional Directors from Bono, Ahafo Bono East were all present to represent their respective regions.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
