We need stable internet for effective, technological healthcare delivery — GMA
The 66th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has ended in the Volta Region with a call on the government and telecommunication companies to collaborate and invest in improving access to stable internet and interoperability.
“This is because technology offers a unique opportunity to achieve universal health coverage by bridging access gaps,” said the President of GMA, Dr (Med) Frank Serebour.
At a press conference in Ho last Sunday, he said telemedicine, for instance, held significant benefits, including improved disease management, resource optimisation, cost savings, and enhanced access to health care across rural and urban areas.
However, Dr Serebour pointed out that, there were barriers such as limited internet connectivity, digital literacy gaps, regulatory issues, data privacy, and cultural resistance which limited its effective deployment.
He said telemedicine offered scalable, efficient solutions for healthcare delivery in the country for a future of integrated, patient-centred healthcare systems.
Apart from that, the GMA president said artificial intelligence (AI) also offered several advantages, especially in diagnostic support and reduction of errors.
In that regard, he urged the government and telecommunication companies also to develop standards and regulatory frameworks to guide the use of that aspect of technology in healthcare delivery.
Professionalism and health
Dr Serebour said GMA highly acknowledged professionalism in health care, encompassing ethical conduct, integrity, respect for patients, adherence to standards, and prioritising patient interests.
“It is, therefore, important to ensure health professionals adhere to standards, and that patient rights are protected all the time,” he added.
Dr Serebour explained that unprofessional conduct could harm patients and the healthcare system which could in turn lead to loss of public trust and poor health-seeking behaviours in the health system.
He urged healthcare institutions to promote professionalism by enforcing established policy guidelines, sanctions, continuous learning, and monitoring.
Entrepreneurship and health
The President of the GMA touched on entrepreneurship in health and said it could complement government efforts in employing healthcare workers and improving access to healthcare.
“However, many health professionals did not have the basic training, expertise, and experience to explore opportunities for entrepreneurship in health,” he said.
Dr Serebour entreated doctors, dentists, and other health professionals to engage in profitable entrepreneurial activities with colleagues who had successfully charted that path.
He said doctors and dentists could consider group practice instead of the solo practices that dominated the private sector.
The GMA president said that medical schools and other health-training institutions should also consider incorporating entrepreneurship training in their curricula.
Elections
On the forthcoming elections, Dr Serebour urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to uphold the highest standards of impartiality, transparency, and accountability.
He urged all political parties and groups to ensure that their members and supporters conducted themselves peacefully during the electoral process.
“Together, let us honour democracy by voting peacefully, respecting the rights of others, and avoiding violence,” Dr Serebour added.
The week-long conference, which was held at Sokode-Lokoe, near Ho, was on the theme: Fostering technology, entrepreneurship, and professionalism in Ghana’s health sector.
It was attended by more than 1000 members of the GMS.