The Ministry of Health is set to integrate major herbal medicines into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as part of efforts to provide patients with alternative treatment options alongside conventional medicines.

Once operational, the government will cover all costs associated with the treatment and payment for these herbal remedies. In addition, mental health treatments and related medications will also be included in the scheme.

This was announced by the Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, during the Ministry of Information's Meet-The-Press series in Accra on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. He emphasized that not all herbal medicines are harmful, noting that some have undergone rigorous scientific testing and have been approved for public use.

"Not all herbal medicines are dangerous because some have gone through scientific processes and have been approved for use," he stated.

Currently, most health facilities in Ghana have designated units for herbal medicine to treat certain illnesses.

Dr. Okoe-Boye also highlighted the government’s free treatment for kidney patients aged 18 and below, as well as those aged 60 and above. Patients between these age brackets receive free dialysis treatment twice a month.

On the issue of nursing, the minister revealed that Ghana produces more nurses than it requires, with over 55,000 nurses graduating each year. The surplus is being sent abroad through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with countries like Barbados, Seychelles, Jamaica, Germany, and the UK.

"A third batch of Ghanaian nurses will leave for Barbados by the end of October this year," Dr. Okoe-Boye added, noting that agreements are being worked out with other countries to facilitate this exchange.

The government is also considering revising nursing curricula to meet international standards, ensuring that Ghanaian nurses can seamlessly integrate into foreign healthcare systems without needing extensive retraining.

In addition, the government plans to review its agreements to ensure that a portion of the nurses’ salaries abroad is directed into government coffers to support training programs for future health workers.

On job creation, the minister stated that 21,000 health workers have been added to the government’s payroll since 2017, and that the completion of the Agenda 111 hospitals project will provide employment for an additional 60,000 health workers.

Dr. Okoe-Boye also presented pictorial evidence of completed projects initiated by the previous government, including the Fomena and Kumawu hospitals, which were about 35% complete when the current administration took over. He added that several other hospitals, including Tetteh Quarshie, Atibie, Aburi, and Kyebi, have also received significant upgrades.

The minister further reported that phase two of the Bolgatanga Government Hospital had been completed at a cost of $20 million from the Saudi Fund, and that the reconstruction of the La General Hospital in Accra would be finished within 36 months. Additional projects include the Suame Hospital in the Ashanti Region and a new Urology Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.