President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger and more collaborative health regulation in Africa, warning that emerging technologies, professional migration and misinformation are creating new risks for patients and healthcare systems.
Addressing the 28th Annual International Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa in Accra, President Mahama said expanding healthcare access alone would not deliver meaningful universal health coverage.
Safety, quality, professional ethics and accountability, he argued, must remain central to the continent's health agenda.
AI, Digital Health Bring New Regulatory Questions
The President identified artificial intelligence and the rapid expansion of digital health among the issues requiring closer regulatory attention.
He said regulators must develop appropriate frameworks for emerging technologies while ensuring the security of patients' health data.
AI, President Mahama stressed, should assist medical professionals rather than displace human judgement and responsibility in healthcare decisions.
The movement of health professionals across borders presents another challenge. He called for stronger cooperation among African regulators to verify professional credentials, particularly as authorities confront forged qualifications and increasingly mobile healthcare workforces.
Humanitarian crises and health misinformation are also putting pressure on existing regulatory systems.
Ghana Targets 90% NHIS Coverage
Turning to Ghana, President Mahama said the National Health Insurance Scheme currently covers about 76% of the population, with the government working towards 90% coverage.
He also pointed to the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme in about 160 districts as part of efforts to improve access to essential services.
Expanding Ghana's domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity is another part of the government's health strategy.
For the President, however, stronger national systems will need to be matched by cooperation across borders as healthcare becomes increasingly interconnected.
He urged African countries to build health systems that are “African in ownership, global in quality and uncompromising in protecting the public.”
President Mahama subsequently declared the 28th Annual International Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa officially open.
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