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Nineteen staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have received SafeCare certification after rigorous training under the auspices of PharmAccess.
This development represents a significant milestone in institutionalising quality healthcare delivery across Ghana’s public health system.
It also signals the GHS’s commitment to addressing the systemic gaps that have resulted in a growing number of lawsuits for negligence and substandard care.
The training programme forms part of the SafeCare initiative, a global effort aimed at improving the quality and safety of healthcare services.
The assessors underwent an intensive selection and training process that involved regional nominations, classroom instruction, supervised assessments, and virtual sessions.
These professionals are now equipped to support healthcare facilities across the country in assessing performance, identifying gaps, and implementing targeted improvements.
Speaking at the graduation event in Accra, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, did not mince words about the stakes involved.
“Nowadays, as you’re aware, you get sued. Ghanaians are smarter now, and all the suits are because we did not take our quality processes seriously. Judges are giving huge fines, and now they’re garnishing our accounts. It’s about the right time we address this,” he indicated.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye emphasised that the Service aims to institutionalise the SafeCare system as a core aspect of its operations.
“The vision of the Ghana Health Service and all of us here is to institutionalize the SafeCare system to make it a culture for the entire service. This way, service delivery will be linked to quality and safety, and every health worker will be empowered with quality improvement, working in improvement teams to continuously improve quality of care using data and evidence-based methods,” he explained.
The assessors underwent a rigorous selection and training process.
According to the event’s facilitators, “Each of the ten regions selected and submitted three districts with one network per district. Four eligible assessors were submitted by the ten regions, and two were shortlisted to represent the regions.”
“We acknowledge the rigour and intensity of the training we have undergone. It’s with immense pride and joy we stand here, ready to contribute as certified assessors, facilitators, and mentors. We pledge to serve diligently in our respective roles, striving to enhance the quality of healthcare within Ghana Health Service as envisioned by our Director-General,” she said.
PharmAccess recognised the efforts of the Director-general of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye with a citation that read, “Quality in healthcare means leadership, attitude, and investment.”
The SafeCare initiative is set to expand nationwide, with the ten participating regions leading the way and plans to bring the remaining six regions on board.
This milestone reflects a renewed commitment by the Ghana Health Service to prioritise quality, safety, and accountability in healthcare delivery, setting a benchmark for transformative healthcare practices in the country.
