Mahama calls for stronger Health Regulation across Africa to protect patients
President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger, more responsive and collaborative health regulation across Africa to safeguard patients and strengthen public confidence in healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the opening of the 28th Annual International Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) in Accra, President Mahama said universal health coverage must go beyond mere access to include safety, quality, ethics and accountability.
“Universal health coverage must mean not only access, but safety, quality, ethics and accountability,” the President told delegates.
He highlighted emerging challenges confronting health regulators on the continent, including the rapid growth of digital health and artificial intelligence (AI), migration of health professionals, forged qualifications, humanitarian crises and the growing threat of misinformation.
President Mahama stressed the need for African regulators to strengthen cross-border cooperation, verify professional credentials, secure health data, and develop appropriate frameworks for regulating digital health and AI.
He emphasised that while technology offers opportunities, artificial intelligence must support, rather than replace, professional judgement and human responsibility.
Touching on Ghana’s health agenda, President Mahama noted that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) currently covers about 76 per cent of the population, with the government targeting 90 per cent coverage.
He also cited the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme in about 160 districts and ongoing efforts to expand local pharmaceutical production to improve access to essential medicines.
President Mahama urged African countries to work together to build health systems that are “African in ownership, global in quality and uncompromising in protecting the public.”
He subsequently declared the 28th AMCOA Annual International Conference officially open.
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