House okays pact for six new hospitals

Parliament last Friday ratified an export credit facility agreement and a commercial credit facility agreement between Ghana and Raiffesen Bank International AG of Austria for 89.9 million euros for the design, construction, equipping and furnishing of five new district general hospitals and one general hospital in six communities in the country.

They are Somanya in the Eastern Region, Wheta in the Volta Region, Buipe, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Tolon and Bamboi, all in the Northern Region.

Description of project

The major components of the project include civil works for the five district hospitals and one polyclinic.

They include outpatient clinics made up of eye clinics, dental clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, theatres, adjunct clinical services, accident and emergency units, inpatient units and maternity clinics, among others.

Background

The health of Ghanaians has been improving steadily since independence.

However, in the last 10 years, health status indicators, including maternal health, child health, nutrition, coverage of clinical services, public and reproductive health services, have all been stabilising.

Noncommunicable diseases, including road accidents, are also becoming major causes of morbidity and mortality in the country

The implementation of the National Health Insurance Policy has led to outpatient per capita increase from 0.40 in 2005 to 0.79 in 2009 and hospital admission rates increased from 42.9 per cent in 2008 to 48 per cent in 2009.

However, there are currently 126 districts in the country without district hospitals.

The new hospitals are expected to significantly strengthen key interventions aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.