Mahama inspects Ridge, Legon hospital projects

Source: Daily Graphic Ghana  -  President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to agitated public sector doctors to be patient as the government works on their conditions of service. Members of the Ghana Medical Association 

working in public health institutions have issued a threat to resign en masse at the end of June this year, if the government failed to act positively on their conditions of service.

But, speaking during inspection of infrastructure projects at the Ridge Hospital in Accra yesterday, President Mahama said there was no cause for alarm as the grievances of the doctors were being addressed.

Mr Mahama, who had earlier paid a similar inspection tour of the Legon Teaching Hospital project, stated that everything would be done to ensure normalcy in the health sector.

President Mahama said the government was determined to provide the necessary support to health workers for them to deliver quality services to the people.

Pointing out that a healthy people was crucial in advancing the development of the nation, the President said that had resulted in emphasis being placed on three core areas of access, well-trained personnel and infrastructure.

He indicated that more health facilities were being established in all corners of the country to bring quality health to the doorsteps of the people.

Attention, he said, was also centred on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He encouraged the health workers to work hard.

President Mahama said he was impressed with the level of work at both project sites and said everything would be done to ensure their completion.

At the Legon Teaching Hospital, the President was told by officials that work on the $200 million expansion project would be completed by the end of March 2016.

Welcoming the President to the Ridge Hospital, the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Obeng Apori, said work was going on smoothly.

He praised the government for the interest it had shown in the upgrading of facilities in the hospital.

He observed that never in the history of the hospital had any government shown such huge commitment to the development of the hospital.