Gov’t to build regional hospitals in six new regions – Health Minister

The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced that the government will construct regional hospitals in Ghana's six newly created regions as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country's healthcare system and improve access to quality medical services.

The announcement was made during the launch of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme in Goaso, the capital of the Ahafo Region, where the Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that every Ghanaian has access to affordable and quality healthcare regardless of their location.

According to Mr. Akandoh, the planned hospitals will serve as major referral facilities, helping to bridge healthcare infrastructure gaps and improve specialist medical services in the beneficiary regions.

Regional Hospitals to Improve Access to Healthcare

The Health Minister explained that the construction of regional hospitals forms part of the government's wider agenda to modernise healthcare infrastructure and enhance service delivery across the country.

He noted that residents in the newly created regions often face challenges in accessing advanced medical care due to the absence of fully equipped regional referral hospitals.

The proposed facilities are expected to provide comprehensive healthcare services, reduce travel time for patients seeking specialised treatment and ease pressure on hospitals in neighbouring regions.

Mr. Akandoh stressed that investing in healthcare infrastructure remains essential to achieving universal health coverage and improving health outcomes nationwide

In addition to expanding healthcare infrastructure, the Minister announced that government will deploy more doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to underserved regions and districts.

He said the move is intended to address existing workforce shortages, improve patient care and ensure that health facilities across the country have the personnel required to deliver quality services.

According to him, strengthening the healthcare workforce is a key pillar of the government's efforts to improve healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities.

Mr. Akandoh described the Free Primary Healthcare Programme as a major intervention designed to remove financial barriers to basic healthcare services and promote early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

He said the initiative demonstrates the government's determination to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all citizens while reducing the burden of preventable illnesses.

The programme is expected to strengthen primary healthcare delivery by increasing access to essential medical services at the community level.

Ahafo Regional Minister Charity Gardiner said the region continues to prioritise investments in healthcare infrastructure and services.

She revealed that several Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds initiated by Municipal and District Assemblies are complementing government efforts to bring quality healthcare closer to communities.

According to her, the expansion of CHPS facilities is improving access to primary healthcare, particularly in rural areas where residents often travel long distances to seek medical attention.

She assured residents that the Regional Coordinating Council remains committed to promoting the overall development of the Ahafo Region, with healthcare remaining one of its top priorities.

The Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dr. Peter Yeboah, described the Free Primary Healthcare Programme as one of the most significant healthcare reforms in Ghana's recent history.

He said the initiative has the potential to transform the country's healthcare system by expanding access to essential health services and improving health outcomes for millions of Ghanaians.

Dr. Yeboah further described the programme as the most important health policy introduced since the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) nearly three decades ago.

He pledged CHAG's full support for the implementation of the programme, expressing confidence that collaboration between government and healthcare stakeholders would ensure its long-term success and sustainability.

The launch of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme and the planned construction of regional hospitals underscore the government's broader commitment to strengthening Ghana's health sector through improved infrastructure, expanded workforce capacity and increased access to quality healthcare services.