Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh says the government has taken concrete steps to address challenges at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital following recent incidents involving staff concerns and safety issues.
Speaking on The Point of View on Channel One TV on Wednesday, October 15, the Minister said significant investments have already been made, particularly at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where doctors had earlier suspended emergency and outpatient services in protest over poor working conditions and an altercation involving him.
“In Tamale, for example, we gave them a number of equipment — more than, if I can remember, GHS2 million worth of medical equipment,” Akandoh said.
He also addressed the situation at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), where similar concerns were raised about safety and working conditions following the ‘attack’ on the hospital’s emergency unit and a nurse.
“Ridge too, we have beefed up the security there. Even Ridge, we have not finished implementing the recommendations, we are still implementing the recommendations,” he added.
The Minister’s comments follow the April 24 presentation of essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The items included ultrasound scanners, defibrillators, ICU monitors, incubators, ventilators, and thousands of face masks, among other critical tools and consumables.
The intervention was part of the Ministry’s broader effort to improve healthcare delivery across the country, particularly in underserved areas. It came amid growing pressure from healthcare workers at the facility, who had raised concerns about the lack of basic resources and what they described as a hostile working environment.
In earlier comments during the equipment presentation, Akandoh acknowledged the tough conditions health workers face and called for unity and efficient use of resources in the sector. He also emphasized that the wellbeing of every Ghanaian must be at the heart of healthcare delivery.
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