Govt to probe ambulance spare parts and maintenance contract – Health Minister designate

The Minister designate for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has indicated that government will initiate investigation into the procurement of spare parts and the maintenance of procured ambulances by the Service Ghana Auto Group Limited. 

Mr Akandoh, who appeared before the Appointments Committee in Parliament in Accra yesterday indicated that $77 million was paid to the company for the maintenance of 307 ambulances.

“I am determined to investigate that particular matter. The facts are that the same company was allowed to buy not less than 307 ambulances at the rate of $41 million.

“Per the contract I have seen, the ministry went ahead to sign a contract for the maintenance of the 307 ambulances at a rate of $77 million in five years.

“Don’t forget we all have cars. The deterioration of any car is not much when used in five years to warrant that contract sum.

These are the facts available to me and I am going to institute an investigation into the matter,” he said.

Unemployment

Speaking on the unemployment rate of health workers, the Minister designate for Health indicated that the unemployment situation of health professionals in the country was alarming.

Mr Akandoh explained that the ministry faced challenges with wage bills and proposed that the government would consider partnering with other countries to get employment for the trained health professionals who remain unemployed.

“The issue has to do with the effect on the wage bill.

There is the need for us to think outside the box and link up with other countries so that we in the ministry will facilitate the migration of these health professionals,” he stated.

The lawmaker also highlighted that the sector had some arrears which had stifled healthcare delivery across the country.

Mr Akandoh emphasised that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) had “arrears of not less than GH¢237 million” and that he would make more enquiries when approved as the Minister of the sector to ascertain whether or not there was a positive balance.

The MP for Juaboso Constituency added that he would consider the passing of a Legislative Instrument (L.I) to guide the NHIA and enhance its service delivery.

Drone services

The minister raised concern about lack of faithfulness on the part of the immediate past government regarding the drone services delivery initiated.

Mr Akandoh explained that the initial idea was that the state would not pay for the drone service. However, it later came to the notice of the Health Committee in the previous government that there was a contract between the Government of Ghana and the Drone Services and the state had been paying for the services.

He lauded the initiative of having drone services to extend health services to hard-to-reach areas, but also affirmed that he would probe the said contract, saying, he was not prepared to capriciously terminate any contract but would probe when there was the need to do so.