By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), March 21, GNA – The Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) has held its 2024 Annual Performance Review Conference, setting its sights on becoming Ghana’s premier medical tourism hub.
The hospital aims to extend its specialised healthcare services beyond Ghana’s borders and attract international patients.
The conference, themed “Focusing on Stakeholder Participation in Innovative Tertiary Healthcare for Medical Tourism,” took place in Ho.
In his address, Dr. John Tampuori, CEO of HTH, emphasised that the conference was an opportunity to reflect on the hospital’s performance, refine strategies, and tackle key challenges.
He noted that stakeholder engagement and participatory decision-making were crucial to developing patient-centered, innovative tertiary healthcare solutions that cater to both domestic and international medical tourists.
“As we strive to position ourselves as a leading tertiary healthcare provider in the sub-region, our goal is to expand our services to attract patients from neighboring countries and beyond. This will solidify our reputation as a premier destination for medical tourism,” he stated.
Dr. Tampuori explained that infrastructure development was key to achieving this vision, and HTH was working with donor partners to enhance its facilities.
Despite facing significant challenges, the hospital made remarkable progress in 2024, including:
The inauguration of the new Teaching Hospital Annex, labeled as an Infectious Disease Centre, establishment of a CT Scan Centre, providing advanced diagnostic imaging services, Construction of new consulting rooms for the Psychological Medicine Unit, Development of a Family Health Centre to enhance maternal and child healthcare services, Completion of a new Pharmacy Complex to improve access to essential medications.
“These projects are all geared towards improving the quality of healthcare we provide to all who patronize our services,” Dr. Tampuori said.
To further boost its medical tourism ambitions, HTH has partnered with the Yonsei University Industry Consortium from South Korea to conduct feasibility studies for the construction of a 500-bed capacity expansion project.
“The feasibility study has been successfully completed, and the report has been submitted to the Ministries of Health and Finance for Cabinet approval. We are hopeful that the project will commence soon,” he revealed.
Despite its progress, HTH continues to face challenges, including: The financial burden of the 13th-month salary payment for staff, which is currently funded through the hospital’s internally generated funds (IGF), The need for government support to absorb this cost, as it affects the hospital’s ability to procure essential medical equipment and supplies.
Dr. Tampuori appealed to the government to step in, ensuring that service delivery remains unaffected.
In his address, Volta Regional Minister James Gunu emphasised that the government is committed to transforming the healthcare sector.
“Our agenda to reposition Ghana as a Medical Tourism Hub requires equipping, retooling, and training in specialized areas to attract clients locally and internationally,” he said.
He assured that the government would soon announce a competent and experienced Governing Board to assist HTH management in delivering quality and efficient healthcare services.
Mr. Emmanuel Mwini, Acting Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Health, speaking on behalf of Health Minister Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system.
He highlighted a new initiative in the 2025 budget that includes: Upgrading Ho Teaching Hospital to provide comprehensive specialist services, Investments in new medical equipment and advanced training programs for healthcare professionals, Expanding the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve access to specialized care.
“The theme of this conference, ‘Focusing Stakeholder Engagement for Innovative Tertiary Healthcare Towards Medical/Health Tourism,’ is timely and relevant,” Mr. Mwini said.
He urged all stakeholders to remain committed to the hospital’s vision, stating, “Let us work together to build a healthcare system that is responsive, equitable, and of the highest quality.”
With its ambitious plans, Ho Teaching Hospital is seeking greater support from the government, private sector, and international partners to achieve its goal of becoming Ghana’s leading medical tourism hub.
The conference brought together doctors, management of Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH), representatives from other teaching hospitals across the country, officials from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), traditional leaders, and key stakeholders in the healthcare sector.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to advancing healthcare delivery in the Volta Region and beyond.
GNA
MA/KOA