The Ghana Health Service is encouraging hospitals in Ghana to strive towards achieving international accreditation.

Director of Policy, Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Emmanuel Odame, says the acquisition of accreditation will be crucial in the country’s quest to enhance health tourism.

“It’s not about adding more infrastructure and adding more personnel.

“We have to get to the point of getting a JCI accreditation in this country, and this is what will attract medical tourists.

“When you know you have international seals, you know you can carry out certain procedures,” he said.

Dr. Odame observes that many health facilities in Ghana have earned the HeFRa certification, but believes it is not enough.

He was speaking at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s 2021 performance review meeting.

Dr. Odame again urged the health sector to focus on urban health with population increase.

According to him, a collaboration with the non-health sector will be key in addressing issues such as road traffic accidents and nutrition.

“There will be a greater population in urban areas and urban health and its deployment is the next conversation we need to have,” he said.

The conference was under the theme “Building a Resilient and Affordable Healthcare System: the Role of Teaching Hospitals and the Healthcare Practitioner.”

Speaking on the achievements of management of the hospital, CEO, Dr. Oheneba Owusu-Danso, revealed that about 17 projects have been undertaken to enhance the activities of the hospital.

These include construction of a four-storey 47-flat house officer’s block, reactivation of the Maternity and Children’s Block and reintroduction of Long Service and Best Staff Awards.

He also said over 2.7 million cedis of the hospital’s IGF has been spent in retooling the hospital.

Dr. Owusu-Danso announced the Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Directorate is 65 percent complete.

The facility which will be the first of its kind in a public hospital will be operational by close of this year.

“The cost of the civil works for the state-of-the art centre is estimated at GHC683,000 and it is expected to be completed before the end of the year,” he added.