The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health conducted a working visit to the Upper East Regional Hospital as part of a nationwide tour of teaching and regional hospitals. The Committee’s objective was to assess the quality of healthcare services provided to patients and engage with hospital management and staff. During their visit, the Committee, led by Chairman Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, toured various departments, including the Accident and Emergency Unit and the Paediatric unit, and interacted with patients receiving care.
Upon concluding their tour, Dr. Nawaane commended the hospital management for maintaining a clean and organized facility. He noted the high patient volume, interpreting it as a positive indicator of the hospital’s effective service delivery. This observation underscored the hospital’s critical role in meeting the healthcare needs of the community. The Chairman’s positive remarks highlighted the importance of a clean and well-maintained environment in providing quality patient care.
However, despite the positive assessment of the hospital’s physical condition and patient volume, the Committee expressed serious concerns regarding the facility’s low revenue generation. Dr. Nawaane pointed out that the hospital’s reported revenue of GH¢8,000,000.00 was inadequate for an institution of its size and patient load. He emphasized the need for management to implement strategies to significantly improve revenue mobilization to match the hospital’s status and high patient attendance. The Committee argued that increased revenue was crucial for addressing the hospital’s challenges, such as outdated equipment and inadequate staff housing.
To address the revenue shortfall, Dr. Nawaane urged the hospital management and staff to adopt innovative approaches to enhance revenue streams. He stressed the importance of retaining patients within the hospital for essential services such as laboratory tests, x-rays, and medication dispensing. He argued that allowing patients to seek these services outside the hospital represented a significant loss of potential revenue. By offering comprehensive services within the facility, the hospital could generate additional income to reinvest in improvements and address pressing needs.
While encouraging revenue generation, Dr. Nawaane cautioned against overcharging patients. He emphasized that the goal was to improve financial sustainability while ensuring patients received affordable care. He assured the hospital management that the Health Committee would support them in utilizing the generated revenue effectively to address the hospital’s challenges and enhance service delivery. This collaborative approach aimed to ensure that increased revenue translated directly into improved patient care and a better working environment for staff.
Dr. Aiden Suntaa Saanwie, the Medical Director of the Upper East Regional Hospital, welcomed the Committee’s visit, stating it provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the hospital’s activities and present their concerns directly to the parliamentary body. He expressed optimism that the Committee would leverage its influence to address some of the hospital’s pressing needs. Dr. Saanwie assured the Committee that management would diligently address the concerns raised and appealed for assistance in refurbishing the maternity block and tuberculosis ward, which were excluded from the hospital’s previous expansion project. This appeal highlighted the hospital’s ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and provide comprehensive care to its patients. Dr. Saanwie’s response reflected the hospital’s commitment to working collaboratively with the Parliamentary Select Committee to address the identified challenges and enhance the quality of healthcare services provided to the community.
