GHS staff to get scannable IDs to curb impersonation

Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has announced that health staff tasked with community and home-based services under the Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) program will receive scannable ID cards. These ID cards will contain unique security codes to verify staff identity and prevent imposters from posing as GHS workers.

The ID cards will be provided at no cost to health workers, especially Community Health Nurses (CHNs), as part of efforts to enhance the implementation of the FPHC program. The DG made the announcement during a two-day Trainer of Trainers program on FPHC held in Bolgatanga, which brought together GHS directors, senior managers, and teams from national and regional levels.

Each staff member will be issued an ID linked to the Service’s database, which can be scanned to determine if the bearer is a legitimate health worker. This initiative aims to strengthen security during community-based services, improve accountability, and boost public confidence in the FPHC program. The ID system is part of a three-pillar approach to delivering the FPHC program, with the first pillar involving home visits, outreach services by CHNs, and community health durbars for early health condition identification and referrals.

The second pillar introduces patient navigators to facilitate patient-provider communication, appointment scheduling, and follow-up. The third pillar focuses on ensuring patients can access essential health services without paying at the point of service.