The Minister of Health, Kwabena Minta Akandoh, has revealed plans by the government to collaborate with the private sector to strengthen health service delivery across the country. Speaking on the floor of Parliament during the debate on the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, the Minister said the initiative known as the equipment placement arrangement will ensure that health facilities receive essential medical equipment without facing upfront financial burdens.
Under this arrangement, private partners will supply medical equipment to selected public health institutions while the facilities pay over time from internally generated funds. According to the Minister, the model is designed to improve efficiency in hospitals, especially those struggling with outdated or inadequate diagnostic and treatment tools. He emphasized that modern equipment is crucial for accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, and reducing patient referrals to distant facilities.
In addition to the equipment initiative, Mr. Akandoh announced that the government is set to begin the construction of six new Regional Hospitals for the newly created regions. The project will commence with the Oti, Savannah, and Western North regions, with construction in the remaining regions expected to follow shortly after. The Minister noted that these hospitals will significantly expand access to quality healthcare, reduce travel time for critical cases, and improve regional emergency response capacity.
Touching on government support for healthcare personnel, the Minister disclosed that the government has disbursed approximately GH¢500 million to nursing trainees over the past year as part of the nursing trainee allowance programme. He added that an additional GH¢231 million will be released within the next two weeks to settle outstanding payments, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting nursing education and motivating trainee nurses.
Mr. Akandoh stressed that these investments reflect the government’s broader vision of upgrading Ghana’s healthcare infrastructure and strengthening human resource capacity to meet growing national needs.
