60,000 jobs coming under agenda 111 – Health Minister

The Ghana Priority Infrastructure Projects (GPIP) popularly referred to as ‘Agenda 111 Hospitals’ Project will employ about 60,000 health personnel when completed and fully operational.

Minister for Health Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye who announced this also revealed that the government will spend a total of $7.65 billion to build and fully furnish the hospitals.

The Agenda 111 initiative is aimed at enhancing the country’s healthcare system by constructing 104 district hospitals, seven regional hospitals, two regional psychiatric hospitals, and a new national psychiatric hospital in Accra.

As of now, construction is ongoing on 96 of these projects, which are at various stages of completion.

Taking his turn at the Minister’s press briefing organised by the Ministry of Information in Accra on Wednesday, Dr. Okoe-Boye said government has already disbursed over $312 million to contractors working on the projects as of July 17, 2024.

The Agenda 111 comprises 101 district hospitals, each with a 100-bed capacity; six regional hospitals with 160 beds, and one regional hospital in the Western Region.Additionally, two 90-bed psychiatric hospitals will be built in Kumasi and Tamale.

The project also involves the rehabilitation of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi and the redevelopment of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

Regional distribution

The regional distribution of district hospitals is as follows: Ashanti (10), Volta (9), Eastern (8), Greater Accra (7), Upper East (7), Oti (5), Upper West (5), Bono (5), Western North (5), Savanna (3), Bono East (2), and North East (2). Each hospital will also have accompanying staff accommodations.

The projects are categorized into three phases: “Category A” projects, which are 70% or more complete; “Category B” projects, with 50% to 70% completion; and “Category C” projects, which are less than 50% complete.

A transformative vision

Dr. Okoe-Boye indicated that the Agenda 111 Project represents a ground-breaking opportunity to transform Ghana’s healthcare system, ensuring that every district and region has access to quality healthcare services.

This initiative supports the government’s commitment to universal healthcare and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3).

It will be the largest healthcare infrastructure investment in Ghana since independence, setting a new standard for healthcare on the continent.

Addressing healthcare inequality

Dr. Okoe-Boye said there has been a significant progress in the health sector with massive investment in infrastructure and job creation.

The NPP government, he pointed out, has over the past eight years, massively expanded healthcare infrastructure including newly built hospitals, upgrading of existing ones and completion of inherited projects.

This massive investment, he indicated, will address the uneven distribution of healthcare infrastructure and position Ghana as a healthcare leader in the sub-region.

Other major health infrastructure projects

So far, hospitals, clinics, and healthcare infrastructure projects started and completed by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration are 47.

These include the Urology and Nephrology Centre at Korle-Bu, Bolgatanga Regional Hospital Phase II, University of Ghana Medical Centre Phase 2 (UGMC II) as well as Manso Nkwanta, Akotombra, Bogoso, Drobonso, Sefwi Asawinso, Mpohor, Elubo, Wassa Dunkwa and Twedie district hospitals.

There are also 17 hospitals, clinics, and healthcare infrastructure projects started by the current government but yet to be completed.

They include the 100-bed Obuasi Trauma Centre, 100-bed Anyinam hospital, 750-bed KATH maternity and children’s block; 285-bed Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua; and €50 million 180-bed La General Hospital.

More health facilities

Dr. Okoe-Boye said government has also completed 250 Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and 400 health centres across the country since 2017.

Regarding healthcare personnel, the government has employed over 21,000 since 2017, averaging 3,000 hires annually.

Ghana to export surplus nurses

Ghana is currently training more nurses than required, with 55,000 of them graduating each year.

Dr. Okoe-Boye disclosed that government is in discussions with Germany, Seychelles, the UK, and Jamaica to export nurses to those countries.

According to him, a third batch of nurses will soon depart for Barbados under a bilateral agreement.

The minister suggested negotiating with beneficiary countries to secure at least 5% of the nurses’ salaries to support training more nurses in Ghana.

Medical drone delivery expansionTo streamline the healthcare system, Dr. Okoe-Boye reiterated that the government will also construct two additional medical drone delivery centres to ensure timely delivery of medicines and blood products.

“In remote areas, where it may take hours for vehicles to reach hospitals, essential medicines can be delivered via drones.

This is part of our commitment to ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of location, receives timely healthcare services,” he stated.

Ambulances procured

Dr. Okoe-Boye also announced the Government has also procured 307 Mercedes Benz Toyota ambulances and 26 Toyota Hiace Rapid Response Ambulances promote healthcare delivery in the country.

Digital platforms for healthcare

Dr. Okoe-Boye also highlighted the success of the NHIS mobile app, which allows Ghanaians to register for health insurance using their Ghana Card from the comfort of their homes.

“With the app, you can input your Ghana Card details, pay using mobile money, and receive a digital NHIS card instantly. For citizens aged 70 and above, they can now access healthcare without paying any upfront costs”, he explained.

The Government has also integrated traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare, reflecting efforts to cater for diverse medical needs.

Dr. Okoe-Boye pointed out that most hospitals in Ghana are now interconnected with the deployment of advance IT enabled systems which have streamlined patient care and enhanced data management.

“If you are transferred from Central Regional Hospital to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, you don’t carry a folder. You just have to give your ID number, and the system has all your data,”Dr. Okoe-Boye explained, underscoring how this innovation has significantly improved healthcare access and delivery.

He cited the National E-Health Project which serves as real-time health surveillance system and helps medical authorities identify disease outbreaks promptly.

“In real-time, the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service can immediately tell that something is happening in the country, and we can move to address it promptly,” he said.

He stated that under the current administration, hospitals have received technological upgrades, including networking infrastructure, laptops, and tablets for healthcare professionals.