Analysis of Ghana's Public Health Act 2012 and AI's Role in Augmenting Vaccine Supply and Distribution Challenges in Ghana
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Date
2024-02
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ResearchGate
Abstract
Objective: This study examines reforming Ghana’s dated Public Health Act to enable responsible AI adoption improving equitable vaccine access. Method: A blended CRuPAC-CREAC analytical framework grounded in statutory language, precedents and academic literature is utilized. Results: Current Act provisions grant the Health Minister broad oversight powers interpretable to permit AI supply chain innovations, but lack explicit
permissions, priorities, assessments and safeguards to govern responsible development. Scientific Contribution: This pioneers structured public health law analyses assessing AI governance gaps and reform solutions in Ghana grounded in peer country models. Practical Significance: The evidenced recommendations provide legislators and advocates a framework for balancing permission and oversight of impactful technology. Conclusion: While the Act could allow AI vaccination optimizations, targeted modernizing amendments codifying guidelines for responsible innovation can profoundly accelerate equitable access. Recommendations: Legislators should enact laws expressly permitting, prioritizing and governing high-impact health AI based on reforms in India, EU and Rwanda.
Description
This article focuses on the need to reform Ghana’s Public Health Act to facilitate the responsible adoption of AI for improving vaccine accessibility. The study employs a CRuPAC-CREAC framework, which combines statutory analysis with literature review and precedent evaluation, to identify and address gaps in the current legislation regarding AI governance.
Key findings highlight that while the current Act allows the Health Minister broad oversight, it lacks specific permissions, priorities, assessments, and safeguards for the responsible development of AI applications in health. The study breaks new ground by analyzing public health laws with a focus on AI governance and comparing Ghana’s legislative approach to international models from India, the EU, and Rwanda.
The article argues that modernizing the Public Health Act with targeted amendments can provide clear guidelines to support responsible innovation, ensuring AI technologies are used effectively and ethically. The recommendations suggest that lawmakers should explicitly permit, prioritize, and regulate health AI advancements to improve equity in vaccine distribution.
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Citation
Addy, A., Adams, V., Acka, M., Amadzor, C., Amoh, B. E., & Mensah, G. B. (2024). Analysis of Ghana's Public Health Act 2012 and AI's role in augmenting vaccine supply and distribution challenges in Ghana. Journal of Law Policy and Globalization, 139, 14-20.