Through an informal dinner, this meeting of the policy dialogue speakers will consolidate the presentations for the various sessions and discuss the overall programme outline for adjustments.

– Registration of participants

KNUST

Dr. Peter Twum, KNUST

Mr. Benjamin Nyakutsey, MoH

Dr. Eric Nsiah-Boateng, MoH

Dr. Daniel Opoku, KNUST

Dr. Joseph Dodoo, MoH

This is the official opening of the 2023 Annual Health Sector Policy Dialogue. It will introduce the policy dialogue theme and present the Health Minister’s reflection on the theme as well as the Keynote Speaker’s address. Also, the Policy Brief series (a byproduct of the policy dialogue) will be launched. Remarks from partners will highlight the critical role of the Annual Health Sector Policy Dialogue which has become the analytical hub of the MOH’s Health Summit to explores to explore strategic options for further health system reforms in support the strengthening of Ghana’s health system.

Introduction & Welcome

Opening Remarks

DPs’ Solidarity Messages

Health Minister’s Reflection: Ghana’s human resource for health: Enhancing motivation and performance towards achieving UHC

Joint Launch of Policy Brief

Keynote Speaker’s Address:
Global workforce challenges and policy options against shortages

Concluding Remarks

Group photograph

Alhaji Hafiz Adam, MoH Chief Director

Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, KNUST Vice-Chancellor

Dr. Francis Chisaka Kasolo, WHO Country Representative
Dr. Wilfred Ochan, UNFPA Country Representative
Mr. Osama Makkawi Khogali, UNICEF Country Representative

Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister for Health

Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister for Health & Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, KNUST Vice-Chancellor

 Prof. Wilm Quentin, TUB

 Alhaji Hafiz Adam, MoH Chief Director

Chair: Kwasi Addai-Donkoh (Faculty, KNUST)

This session will present and discuss intriguing insights from current research on the factors associated with turnover intentions as well as those pushing healthcare workers away from Ghana and those attracting them to other countries; ultimately culminating into the current exodus.

With the aim to get to the heart of the problem and address same, this session will explore health workforce challenges in Ghana and present a profile of the healthcare workforce landscape in Ghana. The session will highlight strategies for improvement with international examples.

(virtual)

This session seeks to ascertain the actual effect of the exodus of healthcare workers from Ghana especially in such a critical time when healthcare workers are needed back home after the devastations of COVID-19 to re-build a resilient health system. Key stakeholders will hereby present on important assessment of the effect of healthcare workers migrating as experienced at the various levels of the health system.

Is the exodus of nurses, other health professionals (not) affecting healthcare delivery?

Impulse from Professional bodies

–      Ghana Medical Association (GMA)

–      Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA)

•             Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH)

Barnabas Yeboah, MoH

Rep., MoF

How do various stakeholders assess

–      the policies, regulations and ethical standards for healthcare workers?

–      payment mechanisms and payment levels?

–      the main reasons for health workers to migrate?

–      government’s posture and understanding of the situation?

–      any other issues…

•             Why the exodus might continue?

9:00 – 9:15

Summary of results of day 1

Anthony K. Edusei, KNUST

Chair: Kwesi Asabir (Director, MoH HRHD)

This session aims to proffer some reform options with a focus on skill-mix innovations (i.e. skill-mix and integrated care) as viable approach to mitigate against the migration of healthcare workers. The features of integrated care would be thoroughly discuss.

9:45 GMT

–      Brief reaction on presentation from stakeholders

–      Perspective of stakeholders on skill mix innovations

o   Providers (GHS, CHAG, TH)

o   Professional bodies (physicians, nurses, allied health, pharmacists)

•

•             Brief reaction from stakeholders

Chair: Otchere Addai-Mensah (CEO KATH)

The GHS is implementing a concept of Network of Practice with the aim to strengthen the primary health care in Ghana at the sub-district level. This session will explore the approaches for implementing the concept in a bid to provide a common understanding for all key stakeholders.

Chair: Eric Kofi Ngyedu (CEO, CCTH)

This session will discuss in-depth the policy/regulatory regime for the network of practice, explore the training requirement of healthcare workers and payment/financing mechanisms for the network of practice.

The policy and regulation for network of practice

Rep., NMC

Rep., GMDC

Rep., Pharmacy Council

Rep., Allied Health Council

Kwesi Asabir, MoH

Barnabas Yeboah, MoH

Moderator

Training for network of practice

–      Brief reaction from stakeholders

(GHS, NHIA, CHAG, MoH)

The aim of this session is to make recommendations for skill-mix innovations suitable for the Ghana health system. This session will highlight the key elements of the network of practice needed critical attention for the successful implementation of the innovative concept.

The way forward

The PPME Directorate of the Ministry of Health and the School of Public Health at the KNUST will together play host to all participants of the policy dialogue to a networking and closing session over a roundtable dinner. This dinner session will see the interactions and professional networking between stakeholders in the Ghana health sector and postgraduate students of health systems and policies in Ghana.