President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger, responsive and collaborative health regulation across Africa to protect patients, improve healthcare standards and strengthen public confidence in health systems.
Addressing the 28th Annual International Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa in Accra, President Mahama said achieving universal health coverage must go beyond providing access to healthcare to include safety, quality, ethics and accountability.
He identified the rapid growth of digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) as emerging areas requiring urgent attention from health regulators across the continent.
According to the President, African countries must develop appropriate regulatory frameworks to guide the use of digital health technologies and AI while ensuring that patient safety, privacy and professional standards are not compromised.
He also cited other challenges confronting healthcare systems, including the migration of health professionals, forged professional qualifications, humanitarian crises and the increasing spread of health-related misinformation.
President Mahama stressed the need for greater cross-border cooperation among African medical regulators to improve the verification of professional credentials and strengthen mechanisms for protecting health data.
He further cautioned that artificial intelligence should complement the work of healthcare professionals rather than replace professional judgement and human responsibility.
“AI must support, rather than replace, professional judgement and human responsibility,” he emphasised, urging regulators to ensure that technological advancements remain centred on patient welfare.
On Ghana’s health agenda, President Mahama disclosed that the National Health Insurance Scheme currently covers approximately 76 per cent of the population, with government targeting an increase to 90 per cent coverage.
He also highlighted the rollout of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme in about 160 districts, as well as ongoing efforts to expand local pharmaceutical production and strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system.
The President called on African countries to deepen collaboration and adopt innovative approaches to building resilient healthcare systems capable of responding effectively to emerging challenges.
He said Africa must work towards health systems that are “African in ownership, global in quality and uncompromising in protecting the public.”
President Mahama subsequently declared the 28th Annual International Conference of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa officially open.
