Health Minister Directs Teaching Hospitals to Operate 24-Hour OPD Services
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has directed all public teaching hospitals across the country to immediately begin operating their Out-Patient Departments (OPDs), laboratories, and diagnostic centres on a 24-hour basis. The directive aligns with the President’s flagship 24-hour health service policy, aimed at improving access to healthcare nationwide.
The directive was issued during an ongoing sector-wide health management retreat, which has brought together leaders and heads of agencies within the health sector to assess performance, address challenges, and map out strategic priorities for the future.
As part of broader reforms, the Minister tasked the Health Facilities Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to fast-track the full accreditation of the Sunyani Regional Hospital as a teaching hospital.
According to him, this move will strengthen clinical training, reduce congestion in existing teaching hospitals, and expand access to specialised healthcare services in the Bono Region and surrounding areas.
Mr Akandoh stressed that Sunyani Regional Hospital should be treated as a teaching hospital in all regulatory and operational processes, emphasizing that all accredited teaching hospitals must urgently comply with the 24-hour OPD and laboratory service requirement.
He further highlighted that Government’s health sector agenda focuses on key reforms and targeted interventions designed to improve service delivery, enhance coordination among agencies, and ensure better healthcare outcomes for citizens.
The Health Minister noted that aligning institutional goals, budgets, and operational plans with these national priorities is critical to meeting public expectations and improving overall sector performance.
According to him, the two-day retreat offers a strategic opportunity for stakeholders to review progress, close implementation gaps, and set clear targets for 2026 and beyond. He urged participants to demonstrate renewed commitment, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and uphold accountability in the delivery of government health policies.
Mr Akandoh concluded by stressing that effective policy implementation requires institutions to move beyond planning and translate commitments into coordinated action, particularly in expanding access to essential health services for the public.
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