Ministry of Health budget for 2011 (Graphic Busines)

THE Ministry of Health (MOH) has been allocated an amount of GH¢987,475,507.00 to implement its activities and projects for the 2011 fiscal year.
Out of the amount, GH¢406,642,442.00 will come from government sources while GH¢356,407,532.00 is supposed to be raised as internally generated funds (IGFs). Donor support amounts to GH¢219,487,125.00 with additional GH¢4,938,410.00 for health-related social intervention programmes.
The figures were contained in the 2011 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana which was presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwabena Duffuor on November 18, 2010.
Just like the previous year, the government will focus on its core objectives of delivering accessible, affordable and quality health services to all by undertaking interventions to improve health service delivery and reduce the inequality gap.

Mother and child care
In line with the achievements of the health related Millennuim Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, the government promised to continue to concentrate on improving health outcomes by targeting resources towards the health of women and children, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
The sector also has plans to implement the National Child Health Policy and strategy which seeks to increase access to maternal, new born and child health services (MNCH). In addition, the ministry will also within the year, implement the adolescent health policy and adopt measures to ensure safe blood product transfusion.

Bridging Gaps in Access to Health Services
In line with the health sector Medium Term Development Plan for 2011, the budget indicated that the MOH will accelerate the implementation of Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) strategy in under-served areas through the involvement of district assemblies. A total of 30 uncompleted and on-going CHPS compounds will be completed, while an additional 30 will be constructed and equipped to be functional. Government will also seek the required funds for the completion of about 391 health infrastructure uncompleted projects dotted around the country.
In addition, health training institutions will be expanded and renovated while basic utilities such as water and electricity be provided in institutions where these facilities are lacking. In addition, beds will be provided “to remove patients on the floor”.

Institutional Care
The government has plans to develop a subsidiary legislation and adopt a community mental health care strategy to facilitate the implementation of the Mental Health Act when passed.
To strengthen the control and prevention of disease in 2011, the MoH will strengthen surveillance, reporting and emergency response systems. Also, case detection and management at health facility level will be improved and vector control strategy scaled up. The ministry will in addition restructure all monitoring and evaluation units under optimal performance.
The health sector will within the year intensify healthy life style promotion by implementing Behaviour Enhancing Communication. To this end, Public Health Education will be intensified with the state-of-the-art communication.

National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)
The scheme will continue to provide financial risk protection against the cost of basic quality health care for all citizens in Ghana. In addition, the implementation of the integrated ICT Platform project will be scaled up while work will continue with Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare to identify the very poor for subsidised NHIS membership. Efforts will also be made to intensify clinical audit of claims in operations to improve cost-containment.

Human Resources Strategy
The government will this year focus on scaling up the production of middle level cadres such as Community Psychiatric Nurses, Midwives, Medical Assistants, Laboratory Technologist and core auxiliary staff and also develop a human resource redeployment plan based on revised staffing norms.

Health Infrastructure
Construction works on district hospitals at Tarkwa and Bekwai, four regional hospitals and staff housing in Wa, Kumasi, Sekondi Takoradi and Tema for doctors, nurses, midwives and other paramedics will be carried out. Other projects to be undertaken include the refurbishment of the Tamale Teaching Hospital and the expansion of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Centres at Korle-Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals as well as the construction of six district hospitals in Adenta/ Madina, Twifo Praso, Konongo-Odumase, Nsawkaw, Tepa and Salaga.
Blood transfusion centres will be established at the teaching hospitals in Kumasi and Accra. In addition, construction works will be carried out on 12 district hospitals with two at Kumawu and Effiduase in the Sekyere East district and 10 in the Krobo areas in the Eastern Region and other newly created districts which have no district hospitals.
Within the year, the construction of five polyclinics at Lambusie, Babile/Brifo, Ko, Wechau and Han in the Upper West Region will be initiated. Additionally the Phase three of the Bolga Regional Hospital project will be continued.