Health Minister, Joseph Yieleh Chireh has announced that work on a proposed regional hospital for the Ashanti region will start next month. The 250-bed facility to be sited at Sawuah, on the Lake Bosomtwe Road, is expected to reduce pressure on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. An estimated four million people in the Ashanti Region and those in other regions, as well as nationals of neighbouring countries rely on Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for healthcare services. The turn-key project when completed will help augment existing facilities hardly able to contain pressures. The Sawuah Project and seven others to be sited in other parts of the country will cost $339 million. They will be financed by Government of Ghana with a concessionary credit from Euro Get De-Invest S.A. of Egypt. A second regional hospital is earmarked for Wa in the Upper West, with district facilities at Konongo and Tepa in Ashanti, as well as Nsawkaw in the Brong Ahafo region. Others will be constructed at Twifo Praso in the Central, Adenta-Kwabenya in Greater Accra and Salaga in the Northern Region. Mr. Yieleh Chireh explained that commencement of work had delayed due to what he described as outstanding issues between the Ministry and the contractor. He says these are being adequately addressed. The Health Minister also announced plans to speed up the process for a complete take-over of a land belonging to the military by Komfo Anokye Hospital to facilitate its expansion. According to Mr. Yieleh Chireh, he has been liaising with the Minister of Defence for a smooth evacuation of the military personnel to the new allocated site.