The Ghana Adventist Health Services of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has offered to partner the government to complete some of the unfinished Agenda 111 hospital projects across the country.
The commitment was made when a delegation from the SDA Health Services, led by Dr James Antwi, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to discuss opportunities for collaboration in healthcare delivery.
The delegation presented a proposal outlining four priority areas in which the SDA Church could support the health sector: trauma care, holistic wellness, oncology and cancer treatment, and rehabilitation and other health services.
The proposed partnership is aimed particularly at strengthening healthcare delivery in underserved communities and expanding access to specialised medical services.
Govt seeks private, faith-based support
Mr Akandoh said partnerships with faith-based health institutions and the private sector were essential to addressing the increasing demands on the country’s health system.
He said government alone could not meet all the healthcare needs of the population and therefore encouraged institutions such as the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), the SDA Church and private-sector operators to support the completion and operationalisation of Agenda 111 facilities.
The Minister commended the SDA Church for its longstanding contribution to healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities, and welcomed its willingness to support the completion of health infrastructure.
He said government was prepared to provide guidance to organisations willing to take up specific Agenda 111 projects, stressing that such partnerships would involve direct support for completing the facilities rather than financial contributions to government.
Mr Akandoh urged CHAG and other private-sector organisations to identify specific projects and areas where they could provide support so that the government could facilitate their participation.
6 regional hospitals planned
The Minister also disclosed plans to construct six regional hospitals in the newly created regions as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare across the country.
He said provision had been made for three of the six hospitals to be constructed this year, with work on the remaining three expected to begin in 2027.
Mr Akandoh further disclosed that government was expanding specialised cardiac care through the construction of two cardiology centres in Tamale and at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
He said a cardiac catheterisation laboratory at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital had also recently been installed and commissioned by President John Dramani Mahama.
The Minister reiterated his position that doctors should accept postings to designated areas to help address disparities in the distribution of healthcare professionals across the country.
Focus on universal health coverage
Mr Akandoh said the government had also introduced three major interventions to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
They include the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund.
He said the interventions, together with investments in health infrastructure and partnerships with faith-based and private healthcare providers, were intended to expand access to quality and affordable healthcare.
The engagement between the Health Ministry and the SDA Health Services is expected to deepen collaboration between government and faith-based institutions and create opportunities for additional investment in health infrastructure and specialised services.
The proposed partnership could also provide a framework for mobilising non-state support to complete and equip selected Agenda 111 facilities, particularly in areas where access to healthcare remains limited.
