UK-Ghana Healthcare Roadshow takes place in Accra March 17-22
The United Kingdom (UK)-Ghana Healthcare Roadshow was last Thursday launched in Accra with a call on delegates to delve into the MahamaCare announced by the President during the delivery of the State of the Nations (SONA).
This is to enable them to explore the opportunities within the initiative yet to be launched and find ways of translating it into their operations.
The Roadshow is a weeklong trade mission being organised under the auspices of the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, and is geared to fostering partnerships that will help develop Ghana’s health sector.
Scheduled between March 17 and 22, the show will create the platform for the participating delegates, both from Ghana and the UK to explore working relationships and collaborations in the areas of healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment supplies, pharmaceuticals and digital solutions.
At a short ceremony in Accra to launch the show, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Keith McMahon, stated that the Roadshow was intended to unlock new trade areas and partnerships for the two countries.
He said apart from boosting healthcare delivery, the show would also create jobs as well as drive economic growth for the two countries.
Mr McMahon said bilateral trade between Britain and Ghana stood at £1.6billion per annum and healthcare played a significant role in the growth.
He again stated that there was already some collaborations between the National Health Scheme (NHS) of England and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
In addition, he noted that the UK Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) Programme was playing a crucial role in developing Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector.
The Deputy Commissioner said apart from these, the show offered an opportunity for Ghana to attract investment along the entire value chain of its healthcare delivery.
He, therefore, urged Ghana’s delegation to the show to leverage it and explore innovative healthcare solutions and foster new business opportunities.
“We want to see trade grow even further, and the healthcare sector offers a great opportunity to do this. Through the roadshow, Ghanaian delegates will witness the UK’s expertise in engineering, biology, digital health, and medical technology, creating room for more partnerships,” he emphasised.
On his part, Dr Ernest Konadu Asiedu, a representative from the Ministry of Health at the National Centre for Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system.
He said key priorities in this direction was tackling public health emergencies and pandemic preparedness, and also expanding healthcare infrastructure.
Also included was promoting herbal, traditional, and alternative medicine, and strengthening human resource development in the sector.
“The partnership with the UK has been instrumental in improving Ghana’s healthcare system. From universal health coverage to mental health integration, the UK’s support has been invaluable,” he commended.
Earlier in the day, the UK’s Department for Business and Trade hosted a roundtable discussion that brought together leading public and private stakeholders within the healthcare community to explore ways to leverage the UK-Ghana partnership in order to enhance healthcare delivery in Ghana.
The Development Director of the British High Commission, Richard Sandall, highlighted existing UK-Ghana partnerships and reassured the UK’s commitment to working with Ghana in key areas of its healthcare sector that will benefit most from UK technology and expertise.
Participants at the roundtable included the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Dr Delese Mimi Darko, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, Professor William Ampofo, the Chief Transformation Officer of Nyaho Healthcare Limited, Dr Elikem Tamaklo, and the Medical Director at the Accra Regional Hospital, Dr Ralph Armah.
The rest were the Healthcare Sector Director for Africa at the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, Heyn Van Royen, the Ministry of Health representative at the National Centre for Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism, Dr Ernest Konadu Asiedu.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
