The management of Goaso Municipal Hospital (GMH) in the Ahafo Region has appealed to the government to urgently improve the facility’s infrastructure, equipment, and human resources to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare.
Dr. Joseph Ankomah, the Medical Superintendent, made the appeal during a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, noting that since GMH was upgraded to hospital status in 1987, there has been little to no significant improvement in its infrastructure and equipment, despite a continuous increase in both inpatient and outpatient attendance.
Originally established as a dispensary in the early 1950s at the then education office, the hospital was relocated to its current site in 1962 and later upgraded to a municipal hospital in 1987.
The facility comprises nine wards and a 10-bed Accident and Emergency Unit, providing general outpatient and inpatient services, major and minor surgeries, and specialized clinics, including eye, ear, nose, and throat (ENT), oral health, mental health, and physiotherapy.
Dr. Ankomah informed the committee that the hospital frequently experiences breakdowns of its Lightwave health information system equipment, alongside a lack of adequate staff accommodation. He also cited a shortage of office space and critical personnel, including doctors, radiographers, and supply chain officers, among others.
He explained that the aging infrastructure and equipment contribute to a high maintenance burden and called for the construction of a new hospital to address these challenges.
The facility also struggles with untarred internal roads, which become dusty during the dry season and muddy during the rainy season. Furthermore, the hospital’s only anesthesia and X-ray machine, as well as its sole vehicle, are currently out of service.
Dr. Ankomah urged the government to prioritize the construction of internal roads, introduce special incentive packages to attract and retain staff in the region, and build a lodge to accommodate caregivers of admitted patients.
Following the tour, Dr. Sebastian Sandaare, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, echoed the concerns and appealed to the Minister of Health, Kwabena Minta Akandoh, and other key stakeholders to take urgent steps to improve the facility’s infrastructure, staffing, and equipment.
He assured hospital management and staff that the committee would submit a full situational report to the government for immediate action.
As a medical practitioner himself, Dr. Sandaare stressed the need for the immediate posting of critical healthcare personnel and the construction of new staff accommodation.