<<Print>>

A two day orientation workshop for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has been opened in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital. The workshop is being sponsored by Star Ghana with support from the EU, DANIDA, USAID and DFID. Issues to be discussed include how Parliament has engaged the Ministry of Health to bridge the gap in human resources for health, and how it has improved governance and accountability in health service delivery. Opening the workshop the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, said the workshop will provide members with an overview of the health sector and challenges, specifically in terms of systems and structures for health delivery. It will also afford the members of the committee the opportunity to collaborate with civil society to ensure equitable and responsive service delivery especially for the vulnerable in the society. They will also deliberate on the maternal health act, health facilitation regulatory act and the health insurance act. The Programme Manager of Star Ghana, Ibrahim Tanko, noted that, Star Ghana is supporting and working with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health to ensure the country has the requisite policies and legislations in place and enforce its implementation. It is also seek to make sure that the health sector works very well in terms of utilising budgetary allocation to the sector judiciously to ensure value for money and quality health delivery that addresses the needs of the country. Mr Tanko said Star Ghana also aims at ensuring that there are avenues for citizens to raise concerns and for them to the addressed appropriately. A ranking Member of the Committee, Dr. Richard Anane, said the last parliament was able to pass about six laws which is unprecedented in the history of the country. However the implementation of these laws has become a problem even though much time was used to induct them. This according to him makes the efforts of Star Ghana very relevant and will help parliament follow up the work of the previous parliament and continue it for the benefit of the nation.