President John Dramani Mahama has called for greater control by developing countries over health financing, production and policy decisions, saying sustainable health systems cannot remain heavily dependent on foreign donor support.
He made the call in New York while launching the High-Level Panel Report of the Accra Reset, titled ‘A Sovereign Future for Health’, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
According to President Mahama, countries in the Global South must move beyond a system where foreign donors have significant influence over health priorities and financing.
He said Ghana’s health-sector reset must include stronger local production capacity, particularly by encouraging domestic pharmaceutical companies to manufacture essential medicines.
“When we say we’re resetting Ghana’s health sector, we do not mean simply building medical facilities and waiting for foreign donors to supply the essential vaccines or IV fluids and medicines,” he said.
President Mahama said the focus should instead be on building local industry capacity, supported by guaranteed state purchasing and access to regional markets.
He said the Accra Reset promotes a new approach to global health cooperation based on equal partnerships, domestic accountability and stronger productive capacity.
“Today, through the Accra Reset, we declare unequivocally that there can be no ownership without control,” he stated.
The High-Level Panel report sets out 10 practical recommendations aimed at reforming the global health architecture and strengthening the capacity of countries in the Global South to manage their health priorities.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
