MINISTRY OF HEALTH

INTRODUCTION
The Ministry of Health had the responsibility of direct provision of public health services delivery in the country.  These were the promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative care, to the Ghanaian public.  With the enactment of ACT 525, this function has been ceded to the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals.  The Ministry is, therefore, left with the responsibility for policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization and regulation of the health services delivery.

Although the Act was promulgated in 1996, there has not been any substantial separation of the functions of the Ghana Health Service and the Teaching Hospitals from the Ministry.  However, in recent times there has been a proactive effort in bringing about the expected change in structure and function.  Upon careful consultation with stakeholders it has now become necessary to severe the cord.  Having ceded some functions to the Ghana Health Service, there is the need for restructuring the Ministry of Health to enable it to perform the role that it has to play in response to the change that it is taking place in the health sector.

The basis of the restructuring is to ensure effective performance of the Ministry’s functions and avoid internal duplication of efforts and conflict with the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals.


ROLE OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
•    Provision of overall policy direction for all stakeholders (players) in the health delivery.

•    Provision of a strong and effective advocacy role in intersectoral action in the health delivery.

•    Mobilization and allocation of resources to all providers in the health delivery services.

•    Provision of relevant and adequate information for co-ordination and management of health services.

•    Provision of regulatory framework for all providers of health services.

•    Monitoring and evaluation of health services in Ghana.

•    Coordination of activities of the agencies, providers and partners in the health sector.


FUNCTIONS
The functions of the Ministry of Health would be to:

•    Formulate health policy.
•    Set standards for the delivery of health care in the country.
•    Provide strategic direction for health delivery services.
•    Monitor and evaluate the health service delivery by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Teaching Hospitals, other Agencies, Development Partners and the Private sector.

•    Develop policies for the practice of Traditional and Alternate Medicine in the country.

•    Source funding for service delivery through GOG, Health Insurance and international community.

•    Allocate resources to all health care delivery agencies under the Ministry.

•    Provide framework for the development and management of the human resources for health.

•    Provide a framework for the effective and efficient procurement, distribution, management and use of health sector goods, works and services.

•    Make proposals for the review and enactment of health legislation.

•    Provide framework for the regulation of food, drugs and health service delivery and practice.