Report filed by Pharm. Emmanuel Oppong

Accra, February 25, 2026 — The Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association participated in a high-level stakeholder meeting convened by the Ministry of Health Ghana to review and finalise the policy framework for the revitalisation of the Ministry’s Vehicle Hire-Purchase Scheme.

The meeting, held at the Ministry of Health Auditorium in Accra, was convened by Chief Director Desmond Boateng on behalf of the Minister. It brought together heads of agencies and key stakeholders across the health sector to deliberate on the scheme’s policy document and operational guidelines ahead of its anticipated rollout.

Representing GHOSPA were National Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Owiafe and Vice Chairman Pharm. Samuel Owusu, reaffirming the Association’s role as a key stakeholder advocating for hospital pharmacists in the public sector.

The revitalised scheme is aimed at improving access to vehicles for health workers—both individuals and institutions—while also serving as a strategic tool to attract and retain professionals in deprived and underserved areas.

During the engagement, GHOSPA presented a set of targeted recommendations to enhance the scheme’s effectiveness and inclusivity. The Association called for broad eligibility to ensure that individual workers, agencies, and recognised institutions all benefit from the initiative.

GHOSPA further proposed flexible repayment terms, recommending a five- to seven-year repayment period for both individuals and institutions, with a minimum of five years of continuous service required for individual eligibility. To safeguard beneficiaries, the Association emphasized the need for comprehensive insurance coverage—both for the vehicles and the associated loans—under a centrally managed scheme.

In alignment with national health workforce priorities, GHOSPA strongly advocated for priority access for health workers serving in deprived and underserved areas, including specialised sectors such as mental health. This approach, the Association noted, would reinforce the scheme’s role as a retention and recruitment incentive.

Additional recommendations included offering a range of vehicle options with appropriate engine capacities for individuals, while enabling institutions to access more robust vehicles such as pick-up trucks and SUVs to support service delivery needs.

The proposals from the stakeholder meeting are currently under final review by government. Indications suggest that further incentives—such as reduced minimum service requirements for workers in underserved areas—may be incorporated into the final design of the scheme.

The meeting underscores GHOSPA’s continued commitment to influencing policies that improve the welfare of health professionals while strengthening healthcare delivery across Ghana.