Bolgatanga: The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has commended the management of the Upper East Regional Hospital for maintaining a tidy and neat facility. The commendation came during a visit led by the Committee’s Chairman, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, who, alongside other members, toured the hospital and interacted with patients in various departments, including the Accident and Emergency Unit and the Paediatric Unit.
According to Ghana News Agency, the visit was part of the Committee’s nationwide tour to Teaching and Regional Hospitals to engage with management and staff, ensuring that patients receive quality healthcare services. Dr. Nawaane, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Nabdam Constituency, expressed satisfaction with the hospital’s cleanliness and the high number of patients seeking care, indicating effective service delivery.
Despite the praise, the Committee raised concerns about the hospital’s low revenue generation. Dr. Nawaane urged the hospital’s management to enhance their revenue mobilization to match the facility’s status and patient attendance. He highlighted the need for innovation in boosting revenue, emphasizing that the hospital’s challenges, such as outdated equipment and poor staff quarters, could be mitigated with increased income.
Dr. Nawaane also stressed the importance of providing essential services within the hospital to prevent patients from seeking laboratory investigations, x-ray services, or medications outside, which could help in generating more revenue. He assured that the Health Committee would support the hospital in managing its finances effectively, provided they do not overcharge patients.
Dr. Aiden Suntaa Saanwie, the Medical Director of the Hospital, expressed appreciation for the Committee’s visit, which allowed them to showcase their operations and present their challenges. Dr. Saanwie hoped that the Committee would employ its lobbying skills to assist in addressing some of the hospital’s issues. He acknowledged the Committee’s concerns and mentioned that management would work towards resolving them, while also appealing for assistance in refurbishing the maternity block and tuberculosis ward.
