The Government has announced plans to complete and operationalize more than 35 stalled health facilities across the country as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and advance Universal Health Coverage.
Speaking at the Ghana Health Service Senior Managers’ Meeting, the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said President John Dramani Mahama has directed that no inherited health infrastructure project will be abandoned.
According to the Minister, government is mobilizing resources to ensure that unfinished health facilities, including several Agenda 111 projects, are completed and put to use to improve access to healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.
‘‘His Excellency the President has directed that we are not going to abandon any infrastructure or project that he has inherited, none is going to be abandoned, and that the state is looking for resources to continue and complete not less than 35 of their general one health facilities. So that is what government is directly going to invest in,’’ he said.
The Minister outlined a three-tier strategy aimed at accelerating the completion and operationalization of the facilities. Under the first approach, government will directly finance and complete selected projects before bringing them into operation.
The second strategy will involve partnerships with non-profit and faith-based organisations, including CHAG and other development partners, who may be granted opportunities to complete and manage some of the facilities.
The third option will see private sector participation through public-private partnership arrangements, including build-operate-transfer and other investment models, to ensure the infrastructure delivers value for money.
‘‘We also have an arrangement of MOU, whether it’s build or bridge and transfer, so that at the end of the day we’ll put the investment government has made in this infrastructure to good use, and will have value for money.’’ He added.
He stressed that the ultimate goal is to prevent public investments from going to waste while expanding access to quality healthcare for Ghanaians.
The announcement comes as Ghana continues efforts to strengthen its health system through improved infrastructure, workforce development and the expansion of primary healthcare services.
By Sarah Apenkroh
