“Together, we can change the face of healthcare delivery in the country” – Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye
The Health Minister Designate and the President’s Representative at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, yesterday, paid a working visit to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
In his submission, he expressed his joy to be at the hospital where he calls home.
He disclosed that his agenda for the health sector, which he discussed with the President of the Republic was three-pronged. This includes a duty to improve the healthcare sector generally, work with the stakeholders as a way of recognizing their valuable knowledge and skills and finally carry everyone along so that all projects that have been done to improve healthcare will be showcased for everyone to see.
Dr. Okoe Boye mentioned that they are working at the Ministry to ensure that by the end of the third quarter of 2024, Government will pilot a booking system for hospital visitation in the country.
He believes that the absence of a booking system causes most people who visit the facilities to arrive much earlier than the reporting time given.
He applauded the First Lady, Her Excellency Rebecca Akufo Addo, for advocating and constructing one of the best paediatric intensive care units in the country.
Dr. Okoe Boye commended the Hospital for collaborating with partners to introduce the E-hospital Project, where they use new information, communication technology for service delivery, bringing a sense of modernization.
He concluded by saying, “I am committed to working with you to make a successful story, the present government is also committed to making a successful story and I believe the media would also be committed to telling a good story.”
The Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah noted how far the Hospital has come as it celebrates its centenary and commended Dr. Okoe Boye for his commitment towards tertiary health care in the country.
Dr. Ampomah elaborated on some of the goals the Hospital has been able to achieve which includes the introduction of the local tissue transplantation programme, cochlear implantation, rheumatology, maxillofacial surgeries, among others. He also added that the Hospital has gained accreditation to train residents in emergency medicine.
One important initiative he indicated was the introduction of the 100% Medicare coverage for staff of the Hospital, which will be launched in May 2024. He further added that the Hospital will be launching a service manual soon, as it celebrates its centenary.
In order to guarantee uninterrupted power supply, Dr. Ampomah disclosed that the Hospital has installed solar panels at the Administration Block and will extend it to the Department of Surgery and other key departments across the hospital.
Other critical achievements by the Hospital include renovation works on the Surgical Block, the reconstruction of the Fevers Unit, the new block for the Psychiatry Department, the Sunshine Hostel for children with childhood cancers and the Urology and Nephrology Centre.
The rest are the installation of a new oxygen plant and the improvement in data quality from 18% in 2017 to 72% in 2024.
Present at the gathering were other officials from the Ministry of Health, Directors and Deputy Directors of the Hospital, Heads of Department, Unit Heads, Members of the media, and other members of staff.
Dr. Okoe Boye ended his visit by touring the Fevers Units, the Urology and Nephrology Centre, and the Accident and Emergency Department.
