Ensure professionalism, quality health delivery service in hospitals - Akandoh to Governing Boards
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has urged the boards of various hospitals in the country to ensure professionalism and quality service delivery at the various facilities.
He said negligence of duty by a staff would not only lead to casualties to patients, but also cost the government huge sums of money.
“In one hospital, we spent not less than GH¢10 million on legal issues in a year. Such cases are growing astronomically in this country.
“Please, we need to change that narrative, that is why you were carefully selected to use your expertise to help change the narrative,” Mr Akandoh said.
The minister said patients deserved to be treated with empathy, dignity and respect.
He was speaking during the swearing-in of the Governing Board of the Ho Teaching Hospital in Accra yesterday.
The Governing Board of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) was also sworn in at the same event.
Members
The board of the GHS included the Chairman, Professor Fred Newton Binka, and Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Dr Belinda Afriyie Nimako, Akwasi Owusu-Mainu, Dr Issahaque Munawaru and Dela Kemevor as members.
The rest are Franklin Owusu Ansah, Dr Gina Teddy, Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, Dr Amedi Kofi Michael, Nana Ofori Ahenkan Il, and Richard Acheampong.
The Ho Teaching Hospital board is chaired by a public health physician, Dr Delanyo Yao Tsidi Dovlo. Other members are Emil Atsu Agbakpe, Dr Fred Bedzrah, Prince Rockson, Dr Divine Azameti, Courage Arnold Foli Kwame-Kumah and Professor Lydia Aziato.
The rest are Prof. Yaw Asante Awuku, Richmond Edem Kofi Kpotosu, Member of Parliament for Ho Central, Togbe Kotoku XI, Paramount Chief of Kpenoe Traditional Area in the Ho Municipality, and Dr Hintermann K. K. Mbroh, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist.
Centres of excellence
The minister further charged management of hospitals to strengthen their clinical services, foster innovation, support health research and position their facilities as centres of excellence.
He expressed the government’s commitment to set the right policy frameworks, invest in infrastructure and support human resource development.
“We count on your leadership to transform these investments into real impacts, measurable improvement and sustained progress,” the minister said.
Mr Akandoh also urged the board members of the GHS to leverage their expertise, integrity and dedication to improve lives.
He said they were being sworn in at a critical time when the government had placed health at the heart of the national development agenda.
“We are advancing bold reforms, which include the roll-out of free family health care, expanded services for non-communicable diseases, and the implementation of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Care.
“Prioritise transparency, strengthen monitoring and supervision and champion patients’ needs.
Never forget, your work directly affects whether people live longer, healthier and more dignified lives,” the minister said.
Challenges
Mr Akandoh acknowledged challenges in the health sector to include funding constraints, migration of health professionals, and the growing burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
“These are tall challenges. But our will to address them is even stronger.
Today, we must mark a new beginning, a renewed commitment to excellence, to public service and above all to the health and dignity of every Ghanaian,” he said.
Appreciation
On behalf of the boards, Prof. Binka expressed appreciation to President John Mahama for the confidence reposed in them.
He expressed their commitment to fulfil their mandate in service to the nation, saying “we pledge our willingness to give of our best to help improve health delivery services in the country”.
