By Ewoenam Kpodo
Ho, June 13, GNA- Chiefs of the Asogli Traditional Area have appealed the Health Minister to make Ho Teaching Hospital’s status a reality, citing the need for improved infrastructure, modern equipment, and specialist staff to match its designation. (35 words)
The appeal came when Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Health Minister and his entourage paid a courtesy call at the Asogli Palace in Ho Friday as part of his visit to Volta for the regional launch of the government’s Free Primary Healthcare programme.
On April 29, 2019, the Volta Regional Hospital (Trafalgar) was upgraded to a tertiary hospital and designated as Ho Teaching Hospital to train allied health scientists of University of Health and Allied Sciences, a solely health professional training university established in 2012 and as well, serve seekers of tertiary health services.
But Togbe Anikpi III, Dufia of Ho-Heve who spoke on behalf of the chiefs said the hospital’s current condition falls short of what a teaching hospital should provide noting, while HTH carries a “teaching” title, its impact remains limited due to lack of critical equipment and essential services.
“We have observed that despite the elevation to teaching hospital status, facilities there, especially equipment-wise, are lacking. At times, one wonders whether it is truly a teaching hospital or it is still a regional hospital.
“It is unfortunate that a vital piece of equipment like the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) which was constructed almost 10 years ago, is still not functioning. They still refer patients from here to Accra and elsewhere for MRI services.”
Togbe Anikpi said there was the need to address the inadequacies at HTH like infrastructure, equipment and specialists befitting its status and to make it fit for the purpose for which it was converted.
He also raised concerns over unemployed nursing graduates saying, Ho’s nursing training school produces qualified nurses, but many remain on waiting lists for four or more years after graduation and described that as a waste of skills the region badly needs.
Mr Akandoh in response, assured the chiefs of government’s commitment to address challenges confronting health facilities, from primary to tertiary across the country and including that of the HTH, citing for example, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) levy.
He said in 2024, about GH¢10 billion was collected in NHIS levy out of which only GH¢6 billion was allocated to the Authority with the rest going to the Consolidated Fund, noting the new administration says NHIS money must stay in health to cater for all subsets of the sector.
The Minister said steps were being taken to absolve the unemployed graduates, saying the government had recruited some health professionals including nurses since coming into office in 2025 while exporting others and urged those still at home (nurses especially) to consider volunteerism, promising them stipends and priority of recruitment when the country’s finances permit.
He noted that there might be discussions on reviewing admission quotas for nursing training institutions as part of broader efforts to align training with available resources and improve the recruitment of graduates nationwide.
Among the entourage were the Volta Regional Minister, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Deputy Director-General of Ghana Health Service, the Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana and the Volta Regional Director of Health Service.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Ewoenam Kpodo