The Ministry of Health, in partnership with Operation Smile and Mercy Ships, has convened a two-day Surgical Dialogue to address key challenges facing Surgical Obstetric, Trauma, and Anaesthesia (SOTA) delivery care in Ghana. The event, themed “Bridging the Gap: Policy, Practice and People in Ghana’s Surgical Journey,” brought together stakeholders to deliberate on pressing issues such as national surgical policies, clinical practices, and people-centered surgical care.
Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, emphasized the need to train and deploy more specialists to manage Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and other complex conditions. She noted that Ghana has made progress in expanding healthcare infrastructure, but critical gaps remain, including limited access to basic surgical services in rural areas and uneven distribution of the surgical workforce.
The dialogue highlighted the urgent need for systemic change to ensure access to safe and affordable surgical services. Participants called for action and deliberate decision-making to integrate the National Surgical Obstetrics and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) into the National Health System, making SOTA care a right, not a privilege.
The event featured a high-level panel discussion on shaping surgical policy, financing surgical care, and innovations in SOTA care delivery, with participants from various healthcare professions, policymakers, researchers, and international development partners.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
