The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Chapter 14) provided for the establishment of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as part of the Public Services of Ghana. In 1996, Parliament passed the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Hospitals Act 1996, Act 525, to pave way for the establishment of GHS.
The GHS is therefore a Public Service body established under Act 525 of 1996 as required by the 1992 constitution. It is an autonomous Executive Agency responsible for implementation of national policies under the control of the Minister for Health through its governing Council – the Ghana Health Service Council.
The Regional Health Directorate (RHD) is responsible for policy dissemination, stakeholder dialogue, capacity-building, coordination of planning and implementation of health policies and programmes in the region. The Departments under the RHD provide technical support, monitoring and supervisory functions of health services delivered at the district, sub-district, and community level in the region.
There are 33 Municipal / District Health Directorates with a total of 1226 health facilities comprising CHPS facilities, clinics, maternity homes, health centres, polyclinics, district hospitals and a regional hospital. The facilities are owned by the government, CHAG, quasi-government and private, The Municipal / District Health Directorates are headed by Municipal /District Directors of Health Service who provide supervision, technical and management support as well as champion the implementation of health policies and programmes in the districts and sub-districts within the region.
As the body responsible for health services in the region, the RHD maintains close links with all other agencies of the Ministry of Health, the local government system, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders in health including development partners, and civil society in the region.
Mandate of The RHD
The Regional Health Directorate (RHD) represents the administrative apex of health services delivery within the region. The mandate is to provide and prudently manage comprehensive and accessible health service with special emphasis on primary health care at regional, district and sub-district levels in accordance with approved national policies. The RHD also works with headquarters, health partners, and other stakeholders to increase access to health services, through the provision of health infrastructure, human resources, logistics/health commodities, public health and clinical care interventions
Functions of The RHD
Generally, the region implements and monitors health Sector policies, ensures effective coordination of activities, judicious management of health resources (human, logistics, equipment and infrastructure) and provides guidance and technical support to the lower levels. More specifically the region engages in the following:
- Ensuring access to health services at the district, sub-district and community levels by providing health services or contracting out service provision to other recognized health care providers in the region
- Undertaking effective management and administration of the health resources within the region
- Promoting healthy lifestyles and good health habits among the public through effective and targeted health education
- Developing appropriate strategies and setting technical guidelines to achieve national policy goals/objectives
- Implementing and monitoring health policies, strategic plans, protocols, standards and guidelines set up by national in the region
- Planning and delivery of clinical interventions
- Planning and management of public health programmes in the region
- Establishing effective mechanism for disease surveillance, prevention and control in the region
- Strengthening public health action to reduce impact of emergencies and disasters on health in the region
- Supportive supervision, monitoring and evaluation of programme implementation
- Human resource management (including staff welfare)
- Transport, equipment and estates management
- Data collection, analysis, reporting and feedback
- Collaboration with key stakeholders in health (NGOs, Community leaders, Decentralized departments, CBOs, etc.).
Departments / BMCs
To deliver its mandate, the RHD is structured into four main Departments / Budget Management Centres (BMCs) as follows:
- Office of Regional Director of Health Service BMC
- Public Health BMC / Department
- Clinical BMC / Department
- Health Administration & Support Service (HASS) BMC / Department
Clinical Care Department
The Clinical Care Department of the Eastern Regional Health Directorate coordinates planning and efficient management of delivery of clinical services in the Region. It has the following Units:
Nursing and Midwifery Services Unit
The Unit has the mandate of coordinating all Nursing and Midwifery activities in the region for improved quality of care. The Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer is the Head of the Unit.
Pharmaceutical Services Unit
The Pharmaceutical Services unit has a core mandate of ensuring the provision of good pharmaceutical services to all clients in the region. The Unit also works with other agencies such as the Pharmacy Council to regulate and ensure good standards are met and kept in the practice of the pharmacy profession in the region.
National Health Insurance (NHIS) Desk
The NHIS Desk coordinates National Health Insurance related issues pertaining to GHS facilities at the regional level.
Biomedical Science/Medical Laboratory Unit
The Unit has a mandate of ensuring effective coordination of all laboratory services in the region for improved quality of care. The Unit is involved in providing services in support of clinical care, public health and research. It provides services in microbiology, hematology and clinical chemistry.
Mental Health Unit
The Mental Health Unit is responsible for all mental health activities and its policy implementation at the regional level under the supervision of the Office of the Deputy Director of Clinical Care. It coordinates activities of Registered Mental Health Nurses, Technical Officers (Community Mental Health), Clinical Psychologists and other cadre of human resource in the area of mental health in the region. The Unit is headed by Regional Mental Health Coordinator.
Public Health Department
The Public Health Department coordinates the planning and implementation of public health activities in the region mainly in communicable disease control and surveillance, reproductive, adolescent and child health, nutrition and health promotion. The Department comprises the following Units and Programmes:
Nutrition Unit
The objective of the Nutrition Unit is to contribute to the achievement of optimal nutrition of the people, promoting child survival, and economic growth and development of the region through capacity enhancement.
Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Unit
The RCH comprises reproductive health, child health, maternal health, neonatal, infant health, family planning and adolescent health.
Disease Surveillance Unit
The Unit functions to forecast and promptly detect Communicable/Priority diseases for their control through a well-coordinated and integrated system of ongoing data collection, analysis and interpretation and timely dissemination of resulting information to stakeholders for action. Data collection is done using tools/forms approved by Ghana Health Service and Disease Surveillance Department. Surveillance data collection is mainly done at the health facility and community levels by health staff and Community based surveillance volunteers and reported at pre-determined periods dependent on the disease being reported.
Disease Control Unit
The Functions of the Unit include:
- Undertaking effective surveillance, forecasting and controlling of diseases of public health importance, outbreaks, emerging and re-emerging threats and pandemics
- Managing epidemics: Estimate resources needed—vaccines, drugs etc. to control epidemics
- Assisting in developing strategies to combat epidemics in the region.
- Working in partnership with other public health units and stakeholders and the community to improve reporting of communicable and non-communicable diseases and their prevention and control.
Health Promotion Unit
The Unit functions to promote early preventive strategies, healthy behaviors and well-being through the creation of environments where individuals, families and communities are informed and empowered to live healthier and happier lives.
Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Unit
The CHPS Unit coordinate implementation of CHPS activities in the Region. CHPS is a strategy to deliver essential community-based health services involving health planning and service delivery with the communities. Its primary focus is communities in deprived sub-districts and in general, bringing health services closer to the community
Programmes
The key programmes that have been pivotal in addressing the major public health challenges in the region include:
- Malaria Control Programme NMCP
- Tuberculosis Programme (NTP)
- HIV/AIDS Control Programme
- Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Newborn Care Programme.