The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Justice Yankson has called on government to provide a stimulus package for the health sector.

The health sector has been at the centre of the fight against COVID-19 in the country.

According to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who delivered the mid-year review of the 2020 budget in parliament on Thursday, said the government spent ¢10.3 billion on a life insurance package for those directly involved in surveillance, case management, and laboratory work.

He also indicated that government waived income taxes for 137,000 health workers, and offered an allowance of 50% basic salary for 10,000 frontline health workers, which cost government ¢320 million.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show, Friday, Dr Jackson explained that even though frontline health workers have been given a combination of incentives to fight against the virus, these initiatives are not enough because the entire health system is in a dire situation.

“Most health facilities are actually on their knees, especially the private sector,” he disclosed.

“They have actually spent a lot of their resources on PPEs and all the COVID-related matters to the point where their running capital has actually dwindled.”

He added that while public health facilities have been supported by government, they are also on their knees because they are not generating funds and revenue like they usually would when operating at full capacity.

Dr Yankson stressed that there is a need for a special package to be provided to help the facilities back on their feet as well.