The Member of Parliament for Nabdam, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, has inspected offices allocated at the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to serve as the Regional Office of the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA).
The inspection was carried out together with the Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga, and the Upper East Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Issahaku.
According to Dr. Nawaane, who is also a Board Member of HeFRA, the visit was aimed at assessing the current state of the offices and identifying the necessary works required to fast-track their operationalisation. He commended the Regional Minister for his strong commitment and keen interest in ensuring that the HeFRA regional office becomes operational in the Upper East Region.
Highlighting the importance of establishing a regional HeFRA office, the Nabdam MP explained that the Agency is mandated to regulate all health facilities in Ghana, including government, quasi-government and faith-based institutions. He noted that having HeFRA present in the region would significantly enhance the monitoring and regulation of health services, ultimately improving healthcare delivery.
“Because if something goes wrong, we don’t have to go to Accra to complain. Right here, corrective measures can be taken immediately,” Dr. Nawaane stated.
He further explained that HeFRA ensures health facilities operate strictly within the scope of services for which they are licensed, while maintaining high standards of quality. He cited instances where facilities claim to provide certain services, such as X-ray diagnostics, but fail to deliver due to prolonged equipment breakdowns, describing such practices as unacceptable.
“They will ensure that facilities provide the services they claim to offer, and that the quality of those services is very high,” he added.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, described the establishment of a regional HeFRA office as timely and critical, noting that it would help curb unethical practices in some health facilities that take advantage of patients’ vulnerability.
He explained that sick people are often desperate and easily exploited, citing cases where patients are told that drugs or laboratory services are unavailable in public health facilities, only to be referred to private individuals operating within the same institutions.
“When you hear it, it is a problem. And we do not have the systems in the region to check that,” the Regional Minister noted.
Mr. Atanga expressed confidence that the presence of HeFRA in the Upper East Region would strengthen regulatory oversight, protect patients, and ensure access to quality healthcare services. He said the move aligns with the vision of President John Dramani Mahama, who has placed healthcare delivery high on the national development agenda.
The establishment of the Upper East Regional HeFRA office is expected to bring regulatory services closer to health facilities and the general public, enhance compliance with licensing requirements, and promote higher standards of healthcare across the region.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Joshua Asaah | Bolgatanga
