Abstract:
In most countries procurement is undervalued compared to the
attention paid to other key areas of Public Sector Reforms. Ghana represents a
case in point. Under the health reforms in Ghana, the Ministry of Health and its
partners (donors, financing institutions and the private sector) recognized the
importance of procurement in its Medium-Term Health Sector Strategy for
Ghana 1997 to 2001. With the aid of an external consultant, using a highly
participatory approach in the development, training, and the implementation of
new structures and procedures, good results have been achieved. Although
work is ongoing and important challenges still need to be addressed, the authors
argue that the new procurement structures now in place can serve as an example
of a standardized support system for health reforms
