Health Minister Meets Catholic Church, Seeks Support for Stalled Hospitals
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has met with Bishops of the Catholic Church to appeal for their support in completing some of the stalled Agenda 111 hospital projects across the country. The meeting took place as the government struggles to address funding constraints that have left many of the facilities incomplete.
Minister Seeks Partnerships for Hospital Completion
The Ministry of Health says the Minister made the appeal during the engagement with the Catholic Church, where he outlined government's efforts to address challenges affecting the implementation of the Agenda 111 programme. Mr Akandoh acknowledged that several of the hospital projects have stalled due to funding constraints, leaving many of the facilities incomplete and yet to serve the communities they were intended to benefit.
Government Proposes Non-Profit Partnerships
The Minister said the government is open to partnerships with faith-based organisations, including the Catholic Church, to manage some of the completed hospitals on a non-profit basis. Under the proposed arrangement, the government would provide the required health professionals and technical support, while faith-based institutions would contribute their expertise in healthcare management and service delivery.
Bishops Welcome Initiative, Call for Stronger Collaboration
Responding to the proposal, the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, welcomed the initiative and commended the Minister's efforts to deepen cooperation between the Ministry of Health and faith-based health institutions. He also called for stronger collaboration to ensure that the existing capacity within religious health facilities is fully harnessed to support Ghana's national healthcare objectives.
Government to Prioritize Completion of 35 Projects
The Minister explained that the government is currently prioritising the completion of 35 of the projects to ensure they become fully operational and begin delivering essential healthcare services. This is a clear indication of the government's commitment to addressing the challenges facing the health sector.
Strengthening Collaboration for Better Healthcare
Strengthening collaboration between the government and faith-based organisations in the health sector could go a long way in improving access to quality healthcare in Ghana. With the existing capacity within religious health facilities, the country could make significant strides in achieving its national healthcare objectives.
The Minister's appeal to the Catholic Church and other faith-based organisations is a step in the right direction. It is now up to the government and its partners to work together to complete the stalled hospital projects and ensure that the communities they were intended to benefit receive the healthcare services they need.
Source: Joy Online
