Essential Health Service Package in Ghana

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) aims to ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need without facing financial hardship. It's about making healthcare affordable and accessible for all.

The World Health Assembly and the United Nations General Assembly have called for countries to accelerate their efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Efforts towards Universal Health Coverage are expanding globally, aiming to ensure everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare services, regardless of their financial status or location.

Ghana's health system faces challenges in achieving its health goals, particularly concerning maternal mortality, infant mortality, and HIV/AIDS.

The failure to achieve MDGs 4, 5, and 6 highlighted the need for improvements in Ghana's health system.

Overemphasis on vertical health policies and programs can lead to fragmentation in the health system, creating inequalities and neglecting vulnerable groups.

Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are key elements in Ghana's approach to providing primary healthcare, often considered exemplary.

Primary healthcare is the cornerstone of an effective health system, promoting health and well-being by providing accessible, affordable, and quality care.

The primary health care system is the first point of contact for healthcare services and plays a vital role in achieving health for all.

An Essential Health Services Package (EHS) lists the minimum public health and clinical services that a government guarantees to its citizens, ensuring equitable access.

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is a system that helps people pay for healthcare services by providing financial protection.

The goal of achieving health for all, meaning that everyone should have access to quality healthcare and be able to live healthy lives.

Preventive services are aimed at preventing health problems from developing in the first place, focusing on early detection and risk reduction.

Providing financial protection ensures that individuals can access healthcare without facing significant financial burdens.

Cost recovery refers to the practice of recovering costs for healthcare services provided, often by charging patients directly or through insurance schemes.

A strategy to improve the health of a population by focusing on prevention and promotion of health, rather than just treating illnesses.

Services aimed at helping individuals and communities improve their overall well-being and prevent health issues.

The set of healthcare services considered essential for a basic level of well-being.

The gap between the essential health services needed and those actually provided, leading to unmet health needs.

The disproportionate lack of access to mental health services, particularly impacting marginalized communities.

A critical issue in Ghana's healthcare system, where healthcare workers are not evenly distributed or matched with the needs of different facilities.

A healthcare approach where services are offered at different levels – primary, secondary, and tertiary – based on care complexity.

Integrating primary mental health services into routine healthcare, offering support alongside physical health care.

The process of restructuring a healthcare system with a stronger emphasis on primary care services.

A comprehensive plan that details how a country will achieve universal health coverage for its citizens.

The process of aligning an EHS package with the benefits package of a national insurance scheme to ensure financial coverage for essential services.

The current Health Sector Medium Term Development plan outlines the priority health goals and objectives of a nation.