The Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has expressed deep frustration at the prolonged breakdown of both the MRI and CT scan machines at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital popularly known as Ridge Hospital.
The situation is said to have severely hampered healthcare delivery at the hospital’s radiography unit.
During an unannounced visit to the facility, where he was confronted with the reality of machines that have been out of service for over two years, Mr Akandoh bemoaned not only the disrepair of critical equipment but also the poor overall maintenance culture at the facility, including unkempt washrooms.
The Minister hinted at a forthcoming policy shift that would require all public health facilities to allocate portions of their internally generated funds (IGF) toward equipment maintenance and infrastructure upkeep.
Speaking to the media after the visit, the Juaboso MP assured the public of swift action to repair the broken machines and restore full services at the radiology department.
“I am here to assess the hospital personally. The CT scan and MRI machines have been down for two years, and I have made several observations about the culture of maintenance that I am not pleased with. From this point forward, we will begin to take decisive actions and define clear policy directions,” he said.
“I have said it repeatedly. I do not understand why hospitals, including district hospitals, regional hospitals, and teaching hospitals, cannot invest a portion of their internally generated funds into maintaining their facilities. This must change.”
“We will soon meet with all medical directors and CEOs of these facilities, and a new policy direction will be outlined. Every medical director or CEO will be required to comply with this directive. Failure to do so means you have no business occupying that position.”
“I have also expressed, across various platforms, my continued confusion as to why the government equips hospitals with medical equipment, only for these facilities to run them for a short period and then expect the government to return and maintain or replace them when they become obsolete. That mindset must end.”
“This issue is not limited to Ridge Hospital. it cuts across the entire country. Every region must change. This is a nationwide call to accountability and sustainability,” he added.
Source: Ghana/StarrFM103.5FM/Benjamin Sackey
