By
Bajin D. Pobia, GNA
Wa, Dec. 2, GNA – Dr
Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, has said proper health
financing is crucial for quality health care delivery in the country.
He said because of
the limited resources, there is the need for the judicious use of financial
resources to help improve the functioning and efficient administration of the
health sector.
Dr Salih said this
in a speech read on his behalf by Madam Fati Korey, a Deputy Coordinating
Director at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, during the 12th
Annual Delegates Congress of the Health Accounting Staff Association of Ghana
held at Wa.
The congress held
under the theme: “The Health Accounting Staff in the era of digitalisation
towards universal healthcare delivery”, provided the platform to discuss
relevant issues affecting the professional development, interest and welfare of
the finance and internal audit fraternity in the health sector.
Dr Salih said
legislative instruments such as the Public Financial Management Act of 2016 Act
921 and the Public Procurement Act of 2003 Act 663 as amended stand in as
guides for financial managers in managing public funds, assets and liabilities.
He said these
legislative instruments are mechanisms to protect the public purse by
controlling mismanagement and ensuring transparent and accountable
distribution, use and application of public funds.
He urged
stakeholders to take advantage of the legal frameworks and work in arrangement
with the rules and regulations and avoid instances of corrupt practices.
He said digitisation
is a concept that contributes to enhancing personnel productivity, facilitating
hospital operations, improving the process, quality and ensuring patient safety
by integrating technology such as medical devices and smart information system
among others.
Dr Osei Kuffour
Afreh, the Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, said the role of
accounting personnel in the survival of every organisation cannot not be
understated.
He said keeping the
relevant books of accounting, strengthening operational procedures, ensuring
robust and timely financial report systems, improving financial transparency,
ensuring value for money and providing updates and advice to spending officers
on existing laws and regulations are some of the duties of the accounting
personnel.
The Regional
Director said with the dwindling resources in the health sector, there is the
urgent need for accounting personnel to begin to explore innovative ways to
deliver healthcare to the people in the most efficient manner.
“We cannot afford to
continue to process our financial transactions manually if we want to remain
competitive”, he said, adding “digitisation has become a topical issue of late
and would affect every organisation and individuals directly or indirectly”.
Dr Afreh said with
digitisation, many of the roles in accounting by the personnel and internal
auditors would reduce and thereby make financial transactions and analysis
swift.
He called on
accounting personnel to build capacities at all levels to meet the increasing
demands for technology and efficiency in financial management for correct data
processes.
He said delay for
the release of funds for urgent activities as well as poor interpersonal
relationships must begin to align with the core values of the health service
professionalism and teamwork at all levels.
GNA
