Some 33 health projects that were approved for implementation last year will cost government €890million, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed.
These projects fall under one of government’s flagship initiatives for the health sector termed ‘Agenda 111’, which is expected to see the construction of major health facilities including 100-bed district hospitals and regional hospitals across the country.
This, the president noted in his first State of the Nation Address for the year, will enable the country to realise its vision of becoming a centre of medical excellence and a destination for medical tourism.
“Last year, 33 major health projects were approved for implementation at a cost of €890million. Key among them are the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Tema General Hospital, the Nephrology and Urology Centre at Korle-Bu, Redevelopment of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital into a Teaching Hospital, and the construction of a new Regional Hospital at Agona Nkwanta in the Western Region.
“As announced last year, Agenda 111 will see to the construction of 100-bed District Hospitals in 101 districts with no hospitals; seven regional hospitals for the new regions, including one for the Western Region; the construction of two new psychiatric hospitals for the middle and northern belts, respectively; and rehabilitation of Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in the Western Region is on course. Construction of some of these hospitals has commenced and will continue without interruption.”
Additionally, the president stated that each of the regional hospitals under the project will be designated as centres of excellence in different specialties of medicine: for instance, orthopedic surgery, burns, plastic and reconstructive surgery, breast care centre, fertility centre, neonatology and pediatric centre, neurosurgery and spine centre, stroke center, heart and kidney centre, and mental health centre among other areas.
As a way to further increase growth of the health sector, President Akufo-Addo said government will incentivise the private sector to increase capacity to support demand in healthcare delivery, as well as encourage Ghanaian medical experts in the diaspora to collaborate and help build the sector.
Currently, he said, government is in the process of deploying electronic medical record systems (E-Health) following implementation in key health facilities like Korle-Bu, Komfo-Anokye, Ho, Tamale and Cape Coast Teaching Hospitals, and eighteen (18) district hospitals in the Central Region; adding that Upper East, Upper West, and Bono Regional Hospitals will go live on the e-health platform in five days.
“Government will continue to invest in the health sector, and will continue recruiting more health professionals in addition to the one hundred thousand recruited in my first term for our health facilities,” he assured.
