MSM welcomes Ghanaian healthcare professionals for custom programme on Strengthening Healthcare Governance

In the first two weeks of September 2025, Maastricht School of Management delivered a custom-made programme on Strengthening Healthcare Governance in close collaboration with TAIPE, The African Institute for Professional Excellence. The first week brought together healthcare professionals from various industries, while the second week welcomed a high-level delegation from the National Health Insurance Authority of Ghana.

Divided over two weeks, from 1–5 September and 8–12 September 2025, participants engaged in an interactive programme filled with academic sessions, discussions, cultural visits, and company visits to Johnson & Johnson (Belgium) and Maastricht University Medical Centre+ to gain real-world insights.

The programme opened with an introduction to Dutch culture by Ms Liliana Bedoya Vargas, who shared a flavour of the way the Dutch people are living, some Dutch habits and the culture in general. The second presentation, led by Ms Sandra Adriaansens, focused on Leadership and High Performing Teams, in which the participants explored how global frameworks of good governance in healthcare finance can be strengthened by differing in leadership styles such as transformational, transactional, and servant leadership. Participants also applied team development models, such as Tuckman’s five stages, to understand how leadership and team maturity directly influence financial governance and policy implementation.

Ms Sandra Adriaansens was very pleased to work with this experienced and interactive leadership group. She said: “This group showed a high level of reflection on the frameworks presented, applying them to their own workplace. As they are jointly working on a national reform project for the Ghanaian health insurance sector, they clearly connected the different leadership styles we discussed to ways of improving their team performance.”

Reflecting on the programme, Prof. Ernest Yorke (Endocrinologist and Vice President of the Ghana Medical Association) said: “The Health Financing and Leadership Course at Maastricht School of Management, organised in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority of Ghana, was enriching. The programme was exceptionally well-structured, combining rigorous academic insights with practical applications relevant to health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

For Harold Boateng, Board Secretary of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Authority, the programme was of high relevance:
“Taking part in the custom-made programme on ‘Strengthening Healthcare Governance’ at Maastricht University was truly an enriching experience. The sessions went beyond theory, offering practical lessons on how governance can improve accountability, transparency and oversight in healthcare.”

Part of the programme included a work visit to Johnson & Johnson in Beerse, Belgium, where participants explored the company’s approach to innovation, governance, and strategic partnerships in the life sciences ecosystem. Also included in the programme was a visit to Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), where participants gained insights into the Dutch healthcare system and experienced how research, education, and care delivery are integrated in practice.

Mr Boateng mentioned how the sessions resonated with the challenges faced in Ghana: “What stood out for me was how the discussions connected directly to real challenges we face in making healthcare systems stronger and more sustainable. I walked away with a clearer sense of how good governance isn’t just about policies and frameworks, but about enabling better decisions that impact people’s lives.”

Dr Wim Groot, Professor of Health Economics, provided a lecture on Governance in Health Financing Institutions, focusing on the formal and informal processes, structures, and rules that guide the allocation, use, and accountability of health resources to achieve a sustainable and equitable healthcare system.

Prof. Yorke was very positive about the way the content was delivered: “The faculty demonstrated deep expertise in health economics, financing models, and leadership development, while encouraging interactive discussions that allowed participants to share local experiences and challenges. The insights were particularly valuable in strengthening my strategic thinking and problem-solving skills for health sector management.”

For the participants, the combination of academic knowledge, practical case studies, and peer learning was highly valuable. Prof. Yorke concluded: “Overall, the course was an enriching experience that broadened my perspective on sustainable health financing and effective leadership. I highly recommend it to health professionals and policymakers seeking to improve healthcare delivery and financial protection in their countries.”

Mr Boateng emphasised the importance of the international exchange of perspectives: “Equally inspiring was the chance to learn from different backgrounds and to exchange experiences with the faculty. That blend of perspectives made the programme not just informative, but also very engaging. My biggest takeaway is that governance in healthcare is, at its heart, about building trust, staying responsive and making systems resilient for the people they serve.”

About MSM’s Global Customised Programmes
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