Government has procured a US$250 million loan facility to expand accommodation at the Ridge Hospital in Accra to ease the growing congestion which has become a headache to the hospital authorities.

Mr. Yakubu Amidu, an administrator at the Ridge Hospital, who told the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday, said the credit facility from the United States of America would be used to expand the current 191 bed-facility to 620 bed-capacity.

He said though government in recent times had equipped the hospital with some required medical equipment including the provision of a CT scan, the major problem had been the congestion.

Work on the expansion project is expected to begin this year and be completed within 24 months.

Mr Amidu explained further that because of the lack of adequate facilities to house patients on admission, delivery of quality healthcare was being affected.

“There is also frequent pressure on staff and frequent breakdown of equipment since it is being used more than necessary,” he said.

Another challenge at the hospital, he mentioned, was the delay in the payment of the national health insurance claims.

He said since February this year, NHIS claims had not been paid, which had made it very difficult for the hospital to pay its casual workers and buy consumables.

Again, Mr Amidu said some drugs were no longer being supplied under the health insurance package for patients, due to the non-payment of claims.

“Currently, the hospital has a CT scan centre, which is fully equipped and would be ready soon to generate some revenue and serve patients…” he added.