A former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, has urged the government to explore the option of negotiating fo
A former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, has urged the government to explore the option of negotiating for medical equipment rather than buying them outrightly.
He said there was a system where original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) allowed the use of their equipment while they served as suppliers of reagents that enabled the equipment to work.
Prof. Akosa said in the 21 Century, no country purchased equipment such as radiography (X-ray machines), computed tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by paying for them up front.
“Nobody buys such machines, it does not need putting money up front; you can negotiate for a manufacturer to provide you with the equipment while you buy the reagents or the necessary accompaniments.
“If you go to UK hospitals, nobody buys diagnostic or laboratory machines. If you build a strong health system, you need to apply these things and this is where the government’s hand is always very strong; collective willpower of the government can make some of these things really affordable,” he said.
Prof. Akosa was speaking during the second edition of the Graphic National Development Series (GNDS) in Accra last Tuesday on the topic: “Acting to prevent than cure diseases, the way to sustainable health.”
The GNDS aims to discuss issues of national interest for accelerated development.
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The pathologist said due to the financial burden associated with upfront payment and how expensive equipment were, health facilities were not able to acquire them, leading to inefficient services.