Accra, Feb. 14, GNA - The Ministry of Health is currently negotiating with a consortium from the Netherlands for funds to undertake the first phase of a project in the sum of euro 44,977,835.00. The project would see to the transformation of the Tamale Hospital into a referral hospital with facilities for medical education. Mr Samuel Owusu-Agyei, Deputy Minister of Health, said it was "the objective of the Ministry to provide a well equipped and well resourced referral hospital in Tamale to cater for the northern half of this country."

"This objective will be achieved within a reasonable time frame upon completion of negotiations currently on-going for funding," he said in a statement in Parliament, which he presented on behalf of the Minister of Health.

The Deputy Minister said in 2005, the Ministry commissioned consultants to assess the scope of work and equipment required for the hospital with a view to developing a competent regional referral hospital.

He said the consultants have completed a master plan for the hospital, made up of architectural and engineering services and the entire project was estimated to cost 77 million dollars. According to Mr Owusu-Agyei, the project has been planned for implementation in two phases.

He said the hospital, since its establishment as a regional hospital in 1970, has not seen any major rehabilitation but has deteriorated with serious structural faults.

He said almost all major clinical and therapeutic equipment in the facility had broken down.

He said in 2003, while sourcing for funds to undertake major rehabilitation works, the Ministry carried out some minor works on the facility, including the reconstruction of some nurses' quarters and the replacement of the vertical waste disposal system in the seven-storey tower block.