Wa, July 1, GNA - Mr Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister has observed that the greatest challenge facing the health sector is health management and financing.

He said to overcome these problems, all Ghanaians would have to put their hands on deck to solve them for the benefit of the people. Mr. Mogtari made these observations when he addressed a two-day seminar on hospital management reform initiative in the Upper West Region at Wa on Wednesday.

The Regional Minister pointed out that proper management practices within the sector was therefore, critical and should be given all the necessary attention it deserves.

Since February 2000, the six public hospitals in the region had, with support of the Danish International Development Assistance, been implementing hospital management reforms at the hospitals. The hospital management reform, aims at improving the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of hospital services and management. It is also to review institutional reform and capacity building initiatives for professional development.

During the two-day seminar, the participants, made up of managers of the six hospitals and other health providers and middle level management staff would also assess progress made in financial reporting, accountability, capacity building and decision-making. Earlier, Dr. Erasmus Agongo, the Regional Director of Health Services disclosed that the analysis of the hospital management reform would be disseminated later in Accra this year.

He said the analysis also include the views and opinions of a number of in-patients and out-patients interviewed at the hospitals. The hospitals covered under the reform programme are the Wa Regional Hospital, Jirapa, Nandom, Tumu, Lawra and Nadowli Hospitals.