Accelerating Universal Health Coverage in Ghana: Community Scorecards as a Key Strategy
Ghana aims to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030. Health authorities and other stakeholders are focused on translating the UHC policy into actionable steps and budget allocations. The goal is for all people in Ghana to access high-quality health services without paying at the point of use.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is advancing this goal through its community scorecard program, developed in 2018 with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA). This program encourages community involvement in enhancing local health services. In 2022, GHS, alongside civil society organizations (CSOs), received funding from the French government’s “Expertise France 5% Initiative” to expand this initiative.
Ghana has established scorecards that monitor reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, adolescent health, malaria, and nutrition. Other scorecards for HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are in development. The scorecard acts as a governance tool, promoting accountability in health services from local facilities to health officers.
Community members use the scorecard to evaluate health facilities based on nine indicators, including care quality, waiting times, and medicine availability. The data collected helps the GHS target support where needed.
What are the primary challenges Ghana faces in achieving universal health coverage by 2030?
Interview with Dr. Samuel Kwame, Health Policy Specialist
Interviewer: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Kwame. Ghana has set an ambitious goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030. Can you elaborate on the initial steps being taken to translate this policy into actionable measures?
Dr. Kwame: Thank you for having me. Achieving universal health coverage is indeed a significant goal for Ghana, and the health authorities are currently prioritizing various strategies to make this a reality. One of the key steps is the implementation of our community scorecard program, developed in collaboration with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance in 2018. This program invites community members to actively participate in monitoring and evaluating health services, which is crucial for fostering local accountability and transparency.
Interviewer: The community scorecard program is an interesting approach. How does it work, and what impact has it had so far?
Dr. Kwame: The scorecard functions as a governance tool, allowing community members to assess their health facilities based on nine indicators such as quality of care, waiting times, and availability of medicines. Since its initiation, we have seen empowering local communities to voice their concerns and highlight areas needing improvement. This direct feedback helps the Ghana Health Service allocate resources and support effectively based on community-identified needs.
Interviewer: In 2022, GHS received funding from the French government’s “Expertise France 5% Initiative.” How is this funding advancing the scorecard initiative?
Dr. Kwame: This funding has been instrumental in scaling up the community scorecard initiative. It allows us to expand our reach, develop additional scorecards—for example, addressing HIV and tuberculosis—and enhance our training sessions for health workers as well as community members. It’s all about building a well-equipped network of stakeholders that can drive health improvements on a local level.
Interviewer: The Ghana Health Service has focused on primary health care (PHC) to make health services more accessible. What role does PHC play in achieving UHC?
Dr. Kwame: Primary health care is absolutely foundational for achieving universal health coverage. The World Health Organization emphasizes that investing in PHC is essential to creating strong, equitable health systems. In Ghana, we are focusing on strengthening PHC services to ensure that all individuals can access essential health services without financial barriers. By putting primary health care at the forefront, we’re making strides towards a healthier population.
Interviewer: There’s also a focus on media training for journalists regarding health system performance. Why is this significant for the overall goal of UHC?
Dr. Kwame: The recent media training conducted in Accra for journalists is a crucial component of our strategy. By educating journalists on how to report accurately using data from the community scorecard, we are promoting responsible journalism. This helps raise public awareness about health service performance and encourages greater community engagement. An informed public is vital for holding health services accountable and continuing our momentum towards achieving universal health coverage.
Interviewer: To summarize, what do you believe are the key components in Ghana’s strategy to reach universal health coverage by 2030?
Dr. Kwame: At the heart of our strategy are community engagement, effective monitoring through scorecards, and a strong commitment to strengthening primary health care. By ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to essential health services without financial stress, we are not just aiming for policy reform; we are fostering a healthier society. Collaboration among health authorities, community members, and civil societies will be fundamental to our success.
Interviewer: Thank you, Dr. Kwame, for sharing your insights on this vital issue. We appreciate your time and expertise.
Dr. Kwame: Thank you for having me. I look forward to seeing all the progress ahead!
A recent media training in Accra educated 51 journalists from across Ghana on how to report on health system performance using data from the scorecard project. The training aimed to promote responsible journalism while fostering community engagement and health accountability.
Health experts emphasize the importance of primary health care (PHC) in making health services accessible. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for strong, equitable health systems to achieve UHC by 2030. It stresses the importance of investing in primary health care as essential for success.
In summary, Ghana’s efforts to reach universal health coverage involve community engagement, monitoring through scorecards, and a strong focus on improving primary health care. These steps aim to ensure that every individual can access essential health services without financial stress.