Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has charged the newly inaugurated Governing Boards of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ho Teaching Hospital to prioritize patient care by ensuring that all patients are treated with empathy, dignity, and professionalism.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Monday, June 16, the Minister emphasized the urgent need to enhance the quality of patient care across the country.
He noted that during his visits to health facilities and from reports received, it has become clear that many patients continue to suffer from poor treatment and a lack of professionalism—factors that contribute to the country’s broader healthcare challenges.
“Ghanaian patients deserve to be treated with empathy, dignity, and respect. It’s disheartening to hear that some people avoid hospitals not because of a lack of equipment, but because of how they are treated by healthcare professionals,” Mr. Akandoh said. “Professionalism must be our hallmark—it cannot be business as usual.”
The Minister also called for a more responsible approach to managing internal funds within health institutions.
He urged facility heads to use internally generated funds (IGF) to repair or replace obsolete equipment, rather than waiting for central government intervention.
“Why should faulty or outdated equipment always require government funding to be fixed?” he asked.
“This must stop. Health facilities must establish dedicated accounts, save a portion of their IGF, and draw from it specifically to maintain or replace critical equipment.”
Mr. Akandoh stressed that these reforms are crucial to building a more responsive and humane healthcare system that meets the expectations of all Ghanaians.