A National Surgical, Obstetrics, and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) has been launched to improve healthcare outcomes in Ghana.
The plan was unveiled by the MP for Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, who represented the Minister of Health at the launch.
Acquah emphasized the importance of the NSOAP, describing it as a critical framework for the healthcare sector.
He stated that the ministry’s commitment to this plan signals a significant step towards improving the quality and accessibility of surgical care, obstetrics, and anaesthesia services nationwide.
The NSOAP provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing healthcare outcomes in Ghana, spanning six domains: Infrastructure, Workforce, Service Delivery, Financing, Information Management, and Governance and Leadership.
The plan outlines goals, strategic objectives, interventions, activities, and indicators to guide the sector for the next five years.
A key priority of the NSOAP is addressing disparities in access to surgical, obstetrics, and anaesthesia (SOTA) care by investing in infrastructure at District, Regional, and Teaching Hospitals.
The MP for Oda, Alexander Akwesi Acquah, stated that the plan will be integrated into national policies to ensure a cohesive approach.
Stakeholders, including Dr. Ruben Ayala of Operation Smile and Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to ensure successful implementation.
The NSOAP will form the basis for policies over the next five years, aiming to achieve inclusion of surgical provision in the Universal HealthCare agenda.
