The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed all public teaching hospitals to begin operating 24-hour Out-Patient Departments, laboratories, and diagnostic centres in line with the President’s 24-hour health service policy.
He issued the directive at a sector-wide management retreat involving health sector leadership. According to him, “All teaching hospitals must urgently begin operating 24-hour OPD and laboratory services in line with the President’s 24-hour health service policy.”
Mr Akandoh also tasked the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to fast-track the accreditation of the Sunyani Regional Hospital as a teaching hospital, noting that the move will improve clinical training, reduce congestion at existing teaching hospitals, and expand access to specialised care.
“The NHIA and HeFRA are accordingly directed to treat the Sunyani Regional Hospital as a teaching hospital and not as any hospital,” he said.
The Health Minister stressed that institutions must align their plans and budgets with government health priorities and move beyond planning to coordinated action, particularly in expanding access to healthcare services nationwide.
