- Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh directs all public teaching hospitals to run OPDs, labs, and diagnostic centres 24/7
- Sunyani Regional Hospital to be fast-tracked for full teaching hospital accreditation
- Institutions urged to align objectives, budgets, and operations with government health priorities
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has instructed all public teaching hospitals to immediately operate their Out-Patient Departments (OPDs), laboratories, and diagnostic centres 24 hours a day, in line with the President’s 24-hour health service policy.
He issued the directive during a sector-wide management retreat, which brought together leaders from across the health sector to review performance and set priorities for the coming years.
The Minister also directed the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to expedite the full accreditation of the Sunyani Regional Hospital as a teaching hospital. He emphasized that this move would enhance clinical training, ease the burden on existing teaching hospitals, and broaden access to specialised healthcare.
“The NHIA and HeFRA are instructed to recognise the Sunyani Regional Hospital as a teaching hospital, not as a regular facility. All teaching hospitals must urgently implement 24-hour OPD and laboratory services in line with the President’s policy,” Mr. Akandoh stated.
He added that the government’s health sector priorities focus on reforms and targeted interventions aimed at improving access, strengthening coordination, and enhancing service delivery nationwide. Institutions are expected to align their objectives, budgets, and operational plans with these priorities to meet public expectations and improve overall sector performance.
“This two-day retreat provides a strategic opportunity to assess progress, address implementation gaps, and set clear targets for 2026 and beyond. I urge all participants to demonstrate renewed commitment, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and uphold accountability as you work together to advance the government’s health agenda and deliver better outcomes for citizens,” the Minister said.
He further highlighted that effective policy implementation requires institutions to move beyond planning to coordinated action, stressing that health facilities must respond directly to public needs by expanding access to essential services.
