The Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) has held its 2024 annual performance review meeting, where Dr. John Tampuori, the Chief Executive Officer, appealed to the Central Government to absorb the payment of the 13th month Salary Policy for deserving staff.
This policy, a condition of service, is currently paid using the hospital’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF), which has become a significant challenge for the hospital.
According to Dr. Tampuori, the hospital’s IGF is being drained by the payment of this policy, which benefits doctors, pharmacists, and allied health workers.
He suggested that the government should either renegotiate the condition of service or provide a budgetary allocation to address this issue and prevent agitations and strikes.
The annual performance review report revealed that the hospital used 3.99% of its IGF on salaries and 9.56% on compensation in 2024. Despite having a youthful staff, the hospital is experiencing a high rate of attrition among experienced staff, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
The report also highlighted the need for adequate accommodation for staff, citing high prices and inadequate housing. The hospital has only 240 beds, and the lack of expansion since its upgrade to a teaching hospital is affecting service delivery.
Dr. Tampuori announced that work on expanding the emergency ward has begun and is expected to be completed within eight months. This project aims to address staff agitations and enhance service delivery.
The 2024 annual performance review meeting focused on stakeholders’ participation in innovative tertiary healthcare for medical tourism. The event attracted stakeholders from teaching hospitals across the country and aimed to position the Ho Teaching Hospital as a medical tourism destination.
Volta Regional Minister Hon. James Gunu commended the hospital’s service delivery and emphasized the government’s commitment to equipping the hospital with innovative equipment. He urged the hospital to foster strong partnerships with stakeholders, citing the 2025 budget allocation for upgrading the hospital.
Hon. Gunu pledged to reconstitute the Hospital Management Board, which is currently non-functional. The hospital’s management has been calling for the reconstitution of the board to ensure effective governance and decision-making.
The Ho Teaching Hospital has added five new facilities to its infrastructure, including a pharmacy complex, CT scan block, and consulting rooms for psychological medicine. These facilities were funded by the Ministry of Health.
As the hospital continues to grow and develop, it faces challenges such as staff attrition, inadequate accommodation, and delays in NHIS reimbursement. However, with the support of the government and stakeholders, the hospital is committed to providing quality service delivery and becoming a medical tourism hub.
The hospital’s efforts to expand its facilities and improve service delivery are ongoing. With the completion of the emergency ward expansion project, the hospital is expected to enhance its service delivery and provide better care to its patients.
Writer: Evans Attah Akangla
Ho
Source: Edyspromotions.com
