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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Conclusions and Implications<br />

<strong>Challenges</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Era</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Globalization</strong><br />

Edited by Emmanuel Obuah<br />

To position <strong>the</strong>m to have a better handle on staff costs, it is recommended that hospitals (under <strong>the</strong> Ghana<br />

Health Service) consider restructur<strong>in</strong>g contracts with hospital staff such that all staff costs are not fixed<br />

costs. As a policy, government can beg<strong>in</strong> discussions with <strong>the</strong> Ghana Medical Association to move<br />

doctors <strong>of</strong>f hospital payrolls and have <strong>the</strong>m set up <strong>the</strong>ir own private consult<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>fices to attend to<br />

outpatients. Doctors will <strong>the</strong>n bill <strong>the</strong> NHIS per patient. Beyond hospitals, <strong>the</strong> benefits <strong>of</strong> this more<br />

flexible contract<strong>in</strong>g arrangement should please <strong>the</strong> NHIS.<br />

A similar conversation can be started with <strong>the</strong> Ghana Nurses and Mid-wives Council. If this is adopted,<br />

<strong>the</strong> NHIS would pay less dur<strong>in</strong>g periods <strong>of</strong> low patient numbers. In fact, that does not have to be <strong>the</strong> end<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> matter. Consider <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> one hospital that must pay an on-call laboratory technician specifically<br />

for perform<strong>in</strong>g tests at night as and when <strong>the</strong> need arises, versus ano<strong>the</strong>r that hires a full-time <strong>in</strong>-house<br />

salaried technician at night. The cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> technician <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> first hospital is entirely variable, while <strong>the</strong><br />

cost at <strong>the</strong> second is fixed. Depend<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong>dividual hospital situation <strong>the</strong> ideal cost sav<strong>in</strong>g strategies may<br />

be an on-call technician, or a full-time technician. Thus, <strong>the</strong> approach suggested here may not apply to<br />

doctors and nurses only.<br />

Table 3: Proportions <strong>of</strong> fixed and variable costs at <strong>in</strong>termediate and patient-care centers.<br />

Mission District Referral<br />

Fixed Variable Fixed Variable Fixed Variable<br />

Adult Medical/Surgical (Female) 79% 21% 77% 23% 83% 17%<br />

Adult Medical/Surgical (Male) 81% 19% 75% 25% 82% 18%<br />

Children's Ward 89% 11% 79% 21% 84% 16%<br />

Maternity/O&G 88% 12% 84% 16% 81% 19%<br />

OPD 53% 47% 40% 60% 54% 46%<br />

THEATRE 86% 14% 92% 8% 96% 4%<br />

Primary Health Care 97% 3% 88% 12% 94% 6%<br />

PHARMACY 92% 8% 87% 13% 94% 6%<br />

LABORATORY 78% 22% 89% 11% 84% 16%<br />

RADIOLOGY 69% 31% 92% 8% 97% 3%<br />

Accident/Emergency (OPD & Ward) 94% 6%<br />

Our f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs fur<strong>the</strong>r suggest that on a cost center basis fixed costs should be reduced at <strong>the</strong> Children and<br />

Maternity wards and <strong>the</strong> Theatre at <strong>the</strong> mission hospital; Laboratory and Radiology units <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> district<br />

hospital; and <strong>the</strong> Theatre and Radiology units <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> referral hospital.<br />

References<br />

Aboagye, AQQ., DEGBOE, ANK and OBUOBI, AAD. (2010a). “Estimat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Cost <strong>of</strong> Healthcare<br />

Delivery <strong>in</strong> Three Hospitals <strong>in</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Ghana.” Ghana Medical Journal, volume 44(3), 83-92.<br />

Aboagye, AQQ and Degboe, ANK. (2010b). “Cost Analysis and Efficiency <strong>of</strong> sub-District Health<br />

Facilities <strong>in</strong> Two Districts <strong>in</strong> Ghana,” International Journal <strong>of</strong> Health Plann<strong>in</strong>g and Management.<br />

Published onl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> Wiley InterScience (www.<strong>in</strong>terscience.wiley.com) DOI: 10.1002/hpm.1047<br />

Fuchs VR. (1993). “No Pa<strong>in</strong>, no Ga<strong>in</strong>: Perspectives on Cost Conta<strong>in</strong>ment,” N Engl J Med. 269, 631-633.<br />

Kwame, Ametor, “National Health Insurance Levy to Increase,” Radio discussion held on 18 Nov, 2010<br />

http://www.xfmnewscenter.com/news/news.php?cat=General&title=NATIONAL+HEALTH+INSURAN<br />

CE+LEVY+TO+INCREASE%3F++<br />

Roberts RR, Frutos PW, Ciavarella GG, Mensah EK, Kampe LM, Straus HE, Joseph G, and Rydman RJ.<br />

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