The Chief Executive of Hope for Future Generation, Cecilia Senoo has called on the government to prioritise the robustness of already existing health facilities over building new ones.
Madam Senoo, who was reacting to JoyNews' docu-series 'Sick Hospitals' where many health facilities across the country are in a deplorable state, was skeptical that government's Agenda 111 was the solution to the problem.
Contributing to deliberations on JoyNews' PM Express, the CEO urged the government to rather invest the funds for Agenda 111 into revamping the existing hospitals.
While expressing concern over the state of logistics in various municipalities, districts, and sub-districts, the CEO highlighted the breakdown of essential equipment and the lack of basic consumables in health facilities at the sub-national level.
"The money that we will use to build hospitals should be used to maintain the hospitals and provide the basic health commodities and consumables for patients to receive good healthcare services," she said on Wednesday.
The CEO underscored the necessity of prioritising the maintenance and restoration of broken-down facilities to ensure that patients receive quality healthcare services.
"We don't have basic consumables and things that would save the lives of the people who visit these health facilities. And so there is no need to build new hospitals now," she told host Evans Mensah.
Drawing attention to the universal health coverage goals set for 2030, the CEO urged the government, the Health Ministry, and the Ghana Health Service to address the current health crisis by focusing on the proper allocation of funds and resources.
"We are in a health crisis as a country. We should use the money to maintain already existing hospitals and restore the broken-down facilities," she stated.
Reacting to this on the same show, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Health Ministry, Isaac Offei Baah said the inadequate supply of logistics does not negate the need for new hospitals.
According to him, in some areas of the country the closest health facility is far, thus, the need to build hospitals.
He also touted Agenda 111 as a laudable project that would make healthcare readily accessible to all and sundry.
"The fact that we have some hospitals that are having issues does invalidate, the necessity or the reason why we have Agenda 111," he said.
He further argued that the rehabilitation of some deplorable hospitals will be more cost effective than if a new hospital is built.
Latest Stories
-
Only those who decide to play the fool stay married – Real Warri Pikin
5 mins -
Cedi can only stabilse temporarily but will keep on depreciating – Prof Bokpin
8 mins -
Finance Ministry develops financial strategy to support SMEs
12 mins -
AfCFTA mission can’t be achieved without digital inclusion – AfCFTA Secretary General
17 mins -
Kukuom voter registration disturbance a bad signal for election 2024 – Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu
23 mins -
3i Summit: Ghana signs $200 million MoU with EBID to support SMEs – Akufo-Addo
27 mins -
Premier League-bound Leicester City and Belgian clubs chase Ghanaian midfielder Michael Baidoo
36 mins -
BoG gives government money to chop; and then we’re burdened with high taxes – Ken Thompson
38 mins -
Is social media worth paying for?
1 hour -
Bawumia cuts sod for construction of Gambaga Sports Complex
1 hour -
MPs serve as ministers; Kodua Fokuo can head NIB as a parliamentary candidate – John Boadu
1 hour -
Bernard Tekpetey wins fourth Bulgarian league title with Ludogorets
1 hour -
Fidelity Bank celebrates mothers and strengthens customer bonds at major markets
1 hour -
Haithem Debbiche appointed Managing Director of Tetra Pak West Africa
1 hour -
Integrate ESG principles in investment decisions – BoG Governor urges companies
2 hours