Mahama urges AMCOA to uphold stronger health regulation across Africa

President John Dramani Mahama has called for enhanced collaboration among African health regulators to protect patients and bolster trust in healthcare systems. During his address at the 28th Annual International Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) in Accra, he emphasized that universal health coverage must encompass safety, quality, ethics, and accountability.

Mahama highlighted the challenges posed by the rapid growth of digital health and artificial intelligence (AI), health professionals migration, forged qualifications, humanitarian crises, and the dissemination of misinformation, stressing the need for stronger regulatory cooperation. He urged health authorities across Africa to bolster cross-border collaboration, particularly in verifying professional credentials and safeguarding health data.

Mahama also advocated for appropriate regulatory frameworks for digital health and AI, emphasizing that technology should enhance, not supplant, professional judgment and human responsibility. In Ghana, the President revealed that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) currently provides coverage to 76% of the population, with the government aiming for 90% coverage.

The government has also initiated the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme in approximately 160 districts and is working to expand local pharmaceutical production. Mahama called for African countries to collaborate in building health systems that are African-owned, globally competitive, and dedicated to public protection.

He officially opened the 28th Annual International Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa.