Dr. Denkyira said this in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. Nana Kornama Kotey, Deputy  Programme Manager of National Buruli Ulcer Control at the opening session of the 2016 Upper  West Regional Health Performance Review meeting in Wa.

 The Director General explained that consistent availability of essential medicines and  supplies were prerequisite for quality health care delivery, there was stock out of  critical medicines and health commodities which occurred in some of the health facilities in 2016.

The inadequate supply of some essential medicines and health commodities in some health  facilities affected quality service delivery and patient confidence.   Dr Denkyira said the GHS would in 2017 continue the integration of its Divisional  Procurement Plans, its dissemination and adherence; and also all Regional Health  Directorates would implement schedule delivery of commodities.

 Regional Medical Stores, regional and district hospitals would also scale up Logistic  Management Information Systems to improve supply chain management.

Dr Denkyira said the GHS attached great importance to the Early Warning System since  unavailability or stock outs of health commodities at the facility level had dire  consequences for the attainment of health outcomes.   “Regions will continue to be assessed on the timeliness and accuracy of reporting on this system and these would form part of their performance agreements,” he said.

On Data Quality Improvement, Dr Denkyira said the importance of appropriate and quality  documentation could not be emphasised in the health sector, noting: “quality data provides  the necessary information that ensures correct decision making for action.”   

He called for monthly data validation and feedback with documentation at all levels, to  help address challenges with data quality.   Dr Denkyira announced that the GHS would ensure that National Health Insurance Scheme Vetting Teams were instituted in all facilities to ensure timely submission and zero rejections of claims.

“The GHS now declares a zero tolerance for appearance before the Public Account  Committee and to facilitate this, all Budget Management Centres should enforce conduction  of pre-audit activities for all transactions. “Audit Units must also liaise with finance units to ensure that all audit queries are  adequately addressed and all management and financial staff should also be abreast with the  public financial management procedures,” he said.

Dr Denkyira announced that the GHS would organise scheduled health screening and  counselling for health workers with recreational activities, and encouraged staff to comply  with leave roster to enable them to achieve peak performance on duty.

Human resource that is competent, well-motivated and of good health is the most  important resource in the health sector that contributes to the achievement of the sector’s  objectives,” he said.  Dr Denkyira said the GHS would implement a comprehensive Leadership and Management  Programme and its priority would be to reduce inequities, and gender would be mainstreamed  into all policies, guidelines and general programming at all levels.