The Executive Director of the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis, Dr. Thomas Anaba, has asked the government of Ghana to, as a matter of urgency, secure funds to release the lockup of the Global Health Fund-donated health commodities at the Tema Port.
The commodities valued at more than $ 45 million had been wasting away at the port since May last year.
This has created a shortage of products in health facilities across the country causing frustration to health workers.
In an interview on Spice FM, Dr. Asare said that the attitude exhibited by the leaders in the country may force the Global Health Fund to discontinue supporting the country in fighting tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria.
The commodities include antiretrovirals (ARV) for the treatment of HIV, medications for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB), artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) for the treatment of malaria and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), rapid diagnostic test kits (RDTs), and GeneXpert cartridges.
Meanwhile, a press statement released by the Public Health Unit of the Ministry of Health has explained the delays in the clearing of Global Health Fund-supported medicines and other commodities from the Tema Port.
It says engagements with relevant stakeholders have led to the development of a robust roadmap which clearly provides impetus to the immediate next steps and way forward for collaboration and cooperation between MoH, MoF, and GRA.
The statement further reassured the public and stakeholders that the challenges associated with the clearing of MoH medicines and other commodities from the Tema Port and other entry points have been conclusively and completely resolved by the government.
