The Ministry of Health and NMS Infrastructure Limited have signed a US$175 million contract for the delivery of six new hospitals under its programme to invigorate regional and district health care throughout Ghana.

The new district hospitals will be developed in Dodowa, Sekondi,Kumawu, Abetifi, Fomena and Garu-Tempane – the seventh hospital, European Hospital in Takoradi will be upgraded and re-equipped.

The innovative design of the hospitals is aimed at providing a therapeutic environment to aid patient recovery while providing value for money by delivering hospitals which require minimal maintenance, have a low energy footprint as well as have the capacity for future expansion.

Madam Sherry Ayitey, the Minister of Health at the symbolic ground breaking ceremony of the construction of the seven district hospital at Kansawurodo in the Essikadu-Ketan Constituency of the Western Region noted that the goal is to support the sustainable advancement of healthcare in Ghana.

She pointed out that it is not just the quality of healthcare services provided that is important but the quality of them – and when coverage is national, everyone has access irrespective of status, ethnic, origin and gender.

“These new 120-bed capacity hospitals represent a new direction and a departure from our traditional building construction technologies – they will have durable fit for purpose medical equipment as well as create employment and offer vocational training for hundreds of people in the country”, he said.

Mr. Ebenezer Addo, the Western Regional Minister added that the importance of quality healthcare delivery in any country is fundamental to a nation’s economic development.

“It is with this in mind that government attaches serious importance to improving upon the health service delivery system in the country through the construction of new hospitals and expanding existing ones”, he said. He urged the Metropolitan Assembly to ensure that there is always easy access to the new hospital.