Government committed to strengthening medical education, healthcare infrastructure – Deputy Finance Minister

Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Finance Minister, has reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening medical education and healthcare infrastructure in Ghana.

Attesting to this, the Minister said in the recent budget presented in Parliament, the government allocated over GH₵2 billion to healthcare infrastructure between now and 2028. This amount includes GH₵200 million in 2025 alone for critical projects. Mr Nyarko Ampem said the government had among others, ordered for the National Health Insurance to be uncapped, set aside huge funds for key interventions including Free Primary Healthcare and the Ghana Medical Care Trust.

Speaking at the 50^th Anniversary Launch of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, he noted that, these initiatives reinforced the dedication that every Ghanaian had access to quality healthcare services. He said the Ministry of Finance was ensuring that transfers to Health Insurance and GETFund and other statutory funds were done promptly.

“Just last week we transferred an amount of GH₵1.392 billion to the National Health Insurance”. Government has also taken a decision to uncap GETFund and have transferred an amount of GH₵9.9 billion to GETFund.  Out of this amount for the GETFund, some GH₵3.5 billion have been allocated to finance Free SHS and the remaining will be available for acquisition for infrastructure and other logistics for institutions”, he explained.

The KNUST SMS 5Oth Anniversary is being held on the theme: “A Glance at the Past, A Glimpse into the Future”. Mr Nyarko Ampem on the University’s achievement and contribution to healthcare in Ghana and beyond said “the impact of KNUST SMS on Ghana’s health sector is remarkable and I commend the staff, faculty and students for their continued dedication.

For the past fifty years the journey has been one of resilience, dedication and groundbreaking achievements and I know the next 50 years presents an opportunity to further position the institution as a leader in medical research, innovation and healthcare delivery,” he stated.  He said the doctor to patient ratio in Ghana had significantly improved over the decades from 1:20,460 in 1989 to 1:5,000 in recent years, acknowledging KNUST for playing a pivotal role in this progress.

Professor Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor, KNUST, said the contributions of the SMS to national and global healthcare through groundbreaking research, innovative teaching and community-centered healthcare interventions could not be overstated. It was the University’s collective responsibility to uphold the legacy of SMS and propel it to greater heights.

Prof Dickson said the KNUST would continue to inspire new opportunities for growth, academic excellence and novel research solutions to enhance health delivery machinery.

Source: GNA