Psychiatric facilities across the country are struggling to procure patient medications.

This is because the Mental Health Authority receives an average of just 30 per cent of its annual budget from government, forcing it to introduce a pay-as-you-go model of operation.

The Authority believes the provision of a dedicated source of revenue will help reduce the burden on the psychiatric facilities and persons who require mental healthcare services.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mental Health Authority, Prof Akwasi Osei, has explained that although his outfit receives some funding from the government, it is inadequate to support their operations.

He noted that unlike other institutions, the Authority is unable to generate funds for its service delivery.

It the a reason he is pushing for the passage of a Mental Health Levy to provide reliable funding for the activities of the Authority.

“The Mental Health Levy is very crucial. When you say the government is not giving enough money, it’s not to say government is not giving anything at all. In fact, when you look at the 30-40%, other aspects of healthcare are probably getting 18-20%; so, we get more but that ‘more’ is just inadequate.”

“Our needs are so many that what the Ministry gives would be inadequate. I am sure this levy is so crucial that no Ghanaian will say don’t establish Mental Health Levy. I am sure as you drive every day in the cities and in the villages, you see persons with mental illness and you are not happy; they could have been taken to the hospital for treatment if we had the money,” he stated.

He reiterated that "you can go to town and ask whether people will not be happy if a levy for mental health was established and I’m sure your interview with people will show.”

He made these comments on the back of JoyNews’ latest hotline documentary christened, ‘Mind Matters’, which highlights the quality rights in mental healthcare.

The full documentary airs on the JoyNews channel at 8:30pm on Monday, February 28. It will be broadcast again on Tuesday at 6:30pm on same channel.

Behind the rising mental health cases in the Greater Accra Region is the sheer insufficiency of staff within the various health facilities to attend to patients who are brought in for treatment.

This reality gravely affects the healthcare given to patients. Efforts are underway to improve the number of mental health practitioners in the Region.