Govt has made far-reaching investment in Health sector – Seth Terkper

Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, says the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has made a significant investment in the health sector than previous governments.

He said the investment in infrastructure development and acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment for use in the health sector are aimed at ensuring quality healthcare delivery in the country.

“We have made the most far-reaching investment in the health sector in modern times and government is committed to doing more for its people,” he said.

The Minister disclosed this in Parliament when he presented government’s supplementary budget worth GH₵1.88 billion six months to the end of 2016.

Sector by sector, Mr Terkper, enumerated projects government has completed and those projects that are “progressing steadily.”

According to him, on the construction or completion of health facilities, government has achieved the following;

1. 617 University of Ghana Teaching Hospital is about 95 percent complete
2. 500 bed Military Hospital at Afari in the Ashanti Region is progressing steadily
3. 420 Ridge Hospital is about 90 percent complete
4. The II phase of Tamale Teaching Hospital is about 20 percent complete
5. The expansion of the Upper East Regional Hospital into a 380-bed facility is about 80 percent complete
6. The Dodowa District Hospital has been completed and it is currently receiving and treating patients
7. The Fomena, Kumewu, and Abetifi district Hospitals are in the following completion stages 60 percent, 55 percent, and 30 percent respectively.

He stated construction of eight district hospitals in Sewa, Salaga, Tepa, Twifo Praso, Konongo and Atomic junction are progressing steadily and some should be completed before the end of the year.

The government has also constructed 1,642 CHPS across the country to address the issue of proximity when it comes to health accessibility.

On the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital and the Ridge Hospital, Mr Terkper said the government has decided to grant the two hospitals autonomy to be self-sustaining.

“In the spirit of ensuring efficient service delivery government will pilot the newly constructed University of Ghana Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital as centers of excellence by allowing them to run on the self-sustaining basis under the Ministry of Health to ease the burden on government while they improve health quality,” he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected]