The University of Ghana School of Public Health, in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control's Health Economics and Financing Programme and the School of Public Health at the University of Rwanda, has officially inaugurated the Regional Health Economics, Policy, and Systems (RHEPS) Hub.
The primary aim of the RHEPS Hub is to enhance the capacity for mathematical, epidemiological, economic and geospatial modeling to support informed decision-making in the healthcare sector.
At the launch event, Prof. Kwasi Torpey, Dean of the School of Public Health, outlined the core objective of the Hub, which is to bolster “the local and regional capabilities in generating, consolidating, and utilising health economics and financing evidence to guide healthcare resource allocation and policymaking.”
He stressed the need to reduce reliance on Western modelers and instead empower the country to lead these efforts.
Prof. Torpey highlighted expectations for the Hub, including the creation of a platform for policymakers and researchers to identify the factors that facilitate or hinder effective engagement between Ghana and Rwanda.
He emphasised the importance of collaboration with the respective Ministries of Health in both countries to ensure that the evidence produced meets policymakers' needs and is relevant to their decision-making context.
Prof. Kwasi Torpey, Dean of the School of Public Health
Prof. Torpey also called for “the immediate development of action plans to address any potential barriers that may arise during the Hub's operations and to sustain the enablers.” He also encouraged the establishment of a platform for a policy maker-researcher engagement forum to foster open discussions and identify enablers and barriers.
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Public Health Director at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), pledged support for the RHEPS Hub, recognising its potential to improve public health policymaking in Ghana and foster collaborations with Rwanda. He cited the successful collaboration during the COVID-19 outbreak when modeling was utilised and expressed the desire to work closely with the Hub to enhance evidence-based policies.
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe said, “during our response to the Covid-19 outbreak, the GHS worked with the School of Public Health to develop and use modelling in our work. In view of this, the Public Health Division sees tremendous opportunity in these Regional Health Economics, Policy and Systems Hubs to support the costing of national, regional and continental public health security plans and interventions and develop integrated models that will be key to our preparedness and response to current and future public health threats.”
Prof. Ntakirutimana Theoneste, Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Rwanda, expressed delight regarding the Hub's formation and highlighted its potential for enhancing Rwanda's health system and policies.
Stakeholders at the launch of the RHEPS Hub
The major stakeholders and intended constituents of the Hub include the Policy Planning, Budget and Research Units of the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service, researchers in Health Economics, policy and systems, development partners, and international and local non-governmental organisations with an interest in health economics and policy research.
The launch event was attended by Professor Justice Nonvignon, Director of the Africa CDC Health Economics and Financing Programme, faculty and staff of the School of Public Health, representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service and some members of the University Community.
