We‘ll introduce maintenance culture policy in health institutions – Minister
The Minister of Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has vowed to introduce a new policy direction aimed at improving the maintenance culture in hospitals across the country.
He disclosed 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.
During a surprise visit to the Accra Regional Hospital on Friday, the Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of maintenance, particularly with regard to medical equipment.
The hospital’s Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computer Tomography (CT) scan machines had been out of service for over two years, while some of their washrooms were also in bad condition and out of use.
Mr Akandoh expressed deep frustration at the prolonged breakdown of both the MRI and CT scan machines, stating that it was hindering healthcare delivery at the hospital’s radiography unit.
“To be very honest, this is not the Ridge Hospital we handed over to the former administration, it is not the hospital we have all been boosting of, this is not the Ridge Hospital we made so much noise about and it must go back to its glory days and we will ensure that happens,” he stressed.
He emphasised that hospitals should invest part of their internally generated funds into maintaining their facilities, rather than relying solely on government support.
The Minister announced plans to meet with medical directors and CEOs of hospitals within a month to discuss the new policy direction.
He emphasised that every CEO or medical director would be expected to comply with the policy, and that failure to do so would be grounds for removal from office.
“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,” he stated.
Mr Akandoh underscored the need for hospitals to take responsibility for maintaining medical equipment and not to always rely on the government, adding that health facilities taking up ownership of maintaining their equipment by leveraging IGF would ensure longevity.
The approach, he explained would not only reduce the financial burden on governments but also promote a culture of responsibility and efficiency in healthcare delivery.
To help maintain medical equipment, hospitals should prioritise routine maintenance of medical equipment to extend their lifespan and prevent premature breakdowns, and healthcare personnel should receive adequate training on equipment usage and basic maintenance to prevent misuse and ensure optimal performance.
Also, hospitals should allocate a specific portion of their budget to equipment maintenance and they should explore partnerships with private sector entities or NGOs to support equipment maintenance and upgrade initiatives.
BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA
