Parliament okays $267m loan agreement to improve health delivery in Ghana
Parliament has approved an amount of $267 million to finance the supply and installation of medical equipment for selected health institutions nationwide.
The loan agreement, between the government of Ghana and the Deutsche Bank AG of New York in America, has a repayment period of 16 years.
It is to assist in improving health care services in the three Teaching Hospitals, the nine Regional Hospitals and other health facilities.
A Parliamentary Committee’s report noted that although the Teaching and Regional Hospitals are to provide tertiary and secondary clinical care for all Ghanaians, these health facilities have been overrun by the increased demand for services.
It said there is a general deterioration of medical services, equipment and buildings to support an efficient service in these facilities and cited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which has only one fully operating theatre resulting in patients having to queue to undergo treatment.
The loan will, among others, provide equipment such as scanners and oxygen generators and also equip the intensive care units.
Meanwhile, as parliament prepares for a long recess on Friday, various loans such as a €13 million facility to finance additional works at the Barekese Water Supply Expansion project and a €0.5 million agreement to finance the e-Zwich Rural Branchless Banking Projects are expected to be approved by the House.
By Eunice Menka