Health Committee urges Ho Teaching Hospital to adopt Public-Private Partnerships to boost productivity

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has urged the management of Ho Teaching Hospital to actively explore public-private partnerships (PPP) as a strategic approach to enhancing productivity and bridging infrastructure deficits.

This recommendation was made during a working visit by Team 3 of the Committee to the facility as part of a nationwide health infrastructure assessment tour. The visit aimed to evaluate the current state of the hospital, identify key challenges, and offer practical policy suggestions for improvement.

Addressing hospital officials, Dr. Prince Ebenezer Arhin , Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, emphasized the importance of leveraging Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and moving beyond reliance on government subventions.

He pointed to positive examples observed in other health institutions where IGF had been successfully utilized to procure essential equipment and improve service delivery. He also highlighted the urgent need to improve staff accommodation as a means of boosting morale and retaining skilled personnel.

The hospital’s Director for Research, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Simon Dzokoto, acknowledged the suggestion but explained that the facility’s IGF was largely committed to repaying debts incurred from borrowed resources, leaving limited room for capital investments.

In response, committee members encouraged the hospital to adopt best practices observed at institutions such as Koforidua Regional Hospital, particularly in the strategic deployment of IGF and the adoption of PPPs to supplement funding and development efforts.

Team 3 of the Committee comprises Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey (Keta), Alexander Akwasi Acquah (Akim Oda), Thomas Winsum Anabah (Garu), Arhin Prince Ebenezer (Mfantseman), Hottordze Roosevelt Alexander (Central Tongu), and Mohammed Sherrif Abdul-Khaliq (Nanton) is expected to tour several key health institutions such as the Kumasi Regional Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Koforidua Regional Hospital, Ho Regional Hospital, and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

The nationwide assessment is part of efforts by Parliament to ensure improved healthcare delivery across the country.