The Cabinet has given a directive to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to take oversight responsibility for the administration of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).
The Public Relations Officer of the MoH, Mr Robert Cudjoe, explained that the directive had become necessary because it appeared the hospital was going to be run by the university as a private entity, a situation which would disadvantage the public.
“The government has given directives for the running of the hospital to come under the Ministry of Health. The Interim Management of the UGMC initially made it to look like the hospital was going to be run by the university. But, just like other health facilities which are under the ministry’s purview, the UGMC is not different and should be run as a public health facility,” he stated.
‘We want to beef up security’
Last Saturday, operatives of the National Security were said to have gone to the UGMC to take over the facility.
But Mr Cudjoe denied the reports of a take-over of the facility, explaining that the National Security was at the site on the ministry’s orders to assess the security situation and make recommendations on how to beef up security at the centre, which is currently being guarded by the security of the university.
He further explained that the contractors on the facility had notified the ministry that they would leave the site soon, since they had finished their work, hence the need to beef up security to protect the facility.
Although the facility was being guarded by the university security, he said, there had been cases of pilfering there.
Therefore, he said, it had become necessary for the ministry to engage the National Security to assess the situation and make recommendations appropriately.
“The security personnel will complement the work of the university security to ensure that the facility is kept safe until it is officially opened for use by the public,” he explained.
‘We are not taking over’
Mr Cudjoe refuted claims of a takeover of the UGMC by the ministry, saying that “the ministry only wants to streamline the activities of the facility in the interest of the public”.
When asked about the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the UGMC, he said it was supposed to be done in consultation with the Cabinet, just the way CEOs of other big hospitals were appointed.
“Now that the way has been cleared, few things need to be done, after which the hospital will start operations,” he added.
UG comment
However, in an interview, the acting CEO of the UGMC, Professor Aaron Lawson, said the management was under the University Council and was, therefore, not an interim board.
Although he declined to comment on the government’s directive, he said management had been given the clearance to recruit staff for the UGMC, saying the positions had been advertised and applicants shortlisted were currently being interviewed.
Background
More than a year after the UGMC had been inaugurated, the multi-million-dollar facility is yet to become operational.
The first phase of the centre was expected to be fully operational by July last year.
There were speculations that there was a tussle between the ministry and the university authorities as to who should be responsible for the management of the centre, but the ministry refuted the claims, saying that it was carrying out due diligence on the facility and how it would be managed.
First phase
Phase one of the project comprises eight separate buildings which house different specialised centres, such as emergency, imaging, operating theatres and laboratories.
The project was funded with a loan facility from Israel, with counterpart funding from Ghana. It was executed by Messrs Engineering and Development Consultants Limited, with medical consultation provided by the Sheba Medical Centre.
The super-tertiary or quarternary facility, which is an extension of tertiary care in reference to advanced levels of medicine, will also provide training and research.
The project is expected to have a phase two to add 350 beds to the facility.
The second phase will provide specialist facilities, including a heart centre, a cancer treatment centre, a rehabilitation centre and a hotel for families of patients.
Source: Daily Graphic
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This facility will be best managed by the University themselves rather than the government to deliver high standards of health delivery. It is just sad we tend to politicize everything in this country. Currently let us take a critical look at the state of our teaching hospitals in Ghana which are gradually deteriorating without any better maintenance culture which is purely as a result of lack of good monitoring and evaluation in our state institutions.
well said TT allow the university to do its own thing whats all this,,, shame npp shame minister of health
The loan for the construction of the hospital at legon is contracted by ministry of health through the ministry of finance, dr Kwabena Duffour guaranteed the loan for ghanan government not the university, The deputy minister for health ubder prof Atta mills Rojo mettlee ninno was the project manager under whom the construction took. this current vice chabcillor was no wherer. The cabal company wants wants to own the facility without paying for it.
My BIG question is what role did government, whether past or present, play in the funding and construction of UGMC? The write up was silent on that. Currently, the University Hospital, Legon, is open to the public, not only the university staff. So what is government beef about this?
THE HEALTH MINISTER WANTS TO DO IT AGAIN. HE WANTS TO GO AND PUT HIS NAME ON THE FOUNDATION STONE AS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT ULTRA MODERN HOSPITAL,AS HE TO THE RIDGE HOSPITAL. MAHAMA W - O-R-K -S AND AGYEMANG MANU TAKE CREDIT STYLE AGAIN IN THE OFFING. THIS IS VERY ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF THE CURRENT HEALTH MINISTER. PLEASE LEAVE THE UNIVERSITY AUTHORITIES ALONE TO MANAGE THE HOSPITAL, RATHER THAN WANTING TO EMPLOY YOUR FAMILIES & FRIENDS INTO HOSPITAL AS WORKERS EVEN IF THEY DO NOT QUALIFY. THE NPP IS NOTED FOR THAT.
the ministry of health should be ashamed of itself. see how much the cardiology department charges and you talk about 'in the interest of the public'? please, leave it for the university to manage. many doctor at korle bu do not work, attending locum, utilising the hospital time for their private work whilst they collect salaries. please check these anomalies before you think of annexing another hospital for destruction. greedy barstaaade
The center belongs to University of Ghana not ministry of health.Every good medical school has it hospital go to UK and the USA.Do not let people's parochial interest take over the general and accepted norm.The hospital is on University land .This does not make sense our they are afraid korle bu will collapse if all the Don's in the various feild move to legon.It is for a good thinker in government to manover around this.The reason is that once it becomes part of the University no political wishwash can be sent there ,the English alone will make them run from there.Academia is academia .The ministry of health have many institution to deal with our regional hospitals, clinic s and polyclinic are not up to standard they should go and deal with that.We don't want any dirty politics at Legon it should be run by the best from the University not a political poddle.
You have not built even a KVIP, but rather running around changing names of known institution and re-commissioning them. Build you own and commission. Don't appropriate someone's legacy as yours. You talk too much and do little.
Shame to the NPP.