A Public Health Physician Consultant and Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Health, Dr Koku Awoonor-Williams, has called for a shift in Ghana’s approach to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

He said the success or otherwise of UHC should be measured by the ability of ordinary citizens to obtain quality healthcare when they needed it.

Dr Awoonor-Williams made the call yesterday when he delivered the keynote address at the opening of the 6th Biennial Scientific Conference of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Legon.

The three-day conference, which runs from September 30 to October 2, is being held on the theme: “Advancing Universal Health Coverage in Africa: Harnessing Innovation, Equity and Resilient Health Systems for Sustainable Health Outcomes.”

He said UHC should not merely be defined by the number of hospitals and health facilities constructed or the number of people enrolled on health insurance schemes, but by whether people could actually access appropriate and affordable healthcare without suffering financial hardship.

Dr Awoonor-Williams said a health system could have infrastructure and insurance programmes in place but still fail to achieve UHC if citizens were unable to receive the care they needed at the point of service.

He, therefore, stressed the need for Ghana and other African countries to build health systems that responded to the real needs of their populations, particularly people living in rural and underserved communities.

He also emphasised the importance of innovation in strengthening healthcare delivery, saying sustainable health outcomes could not be achieved without supporting health workers who continued to provide services under difficult conditions.

He said health workers remained central to the delivery of UHC and, therefore, required the necessary resources, systems and support to perform their duties effectively.

Dr Awoonor-Williams further argued that access to healthcare should not expose individuals and families to financial ruin or force them to travel long distances before receiving essential medical attention.

He said UHC should ultimately guarantee that a person could seek medical care when necessary without having to choose between their health and their ability to meet basic household needs.

The keynote speaker also used the occasion to pay tribute to Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah, a former Minister of Health, whom he credited with providing important support during the early stages of his surgical career in rural areas.

He recounted her role in encouraging and supporting him during his formative professional years and acknowledged her contribution to his development as a health professional.

Dr Awoonor-Williams also recalled her role in his receiving the 1997 National Award, the Grand Medal, describing the recognition as an important moment in his professional journey.

The conference has brought together health professionals, researchers, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss emerging challenges and possible solutions to healthcare delivery in Africa.

It features panel discussions, scientific presentations and research sessions aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge and strengthening the link between research, policy and practice.

The conference continues today and ends tomorrow, October 2, with participants expected to deliberate further on innovation, equity and the resilience of health systems as key elements in achieving sustainable health outcomes across Africa.