Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister for Defence, says the government is investing in the Military Hospital so as to ultimately incorporate it into the Post-Graduate Medical College of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
Laying the foundation stone for the second phase of the 37th Military Hospital Development Scheme in Accra yesterday, the Minister said because of the long term plan for the hospital, no effort will be spared in the recruitment of highly experienced Ghanaian specialists and consultants to augment the manpower requirements of the hospital.
The 37th Military Hospital will also serve as a staging post for Ghanaian specialists and consultants to return home and offer their professional services to both the military and civilian population. Statistics indicate that 60% of all patients treated at the hospital are non-entitled civilians.
Dr. Addo-Kufuor had kind words for the former government for the work done on the hospital. "I commend the previous government for starting the first phase of the 37th Military Hospital Development Scheme, and laying the foundation that has made it possible for the present government to continue with the second phase."
The second phase comprises the construction of an Out Patient Department Complex, composed of a polyclinic, specialist and physiotherapy departments, data centre, public health division, shopping mall and a male surgical ward. Plans for the third phase include the construction of a 120-bed capacity children's ward, 150-bed capacity maternity block and modern national accident and emergency unit. The successful completion of the project will make the hospital one of the finest in the sub-region.
He said houses for doctors and workers would be built in the vicinity of the hospital for prompt responses to emergency cases.
Brigadier Dan Twum, Director of Medical Services of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), giving a brief history of the hospital said it was established in 1941 by the colonialists to offer medical care to those who saw action in World War II.
He said he was gratified that support had been given the hospital resulting in the improvement of the quality of equipment and other facilities.
Construction work started in February 2001 at a projected cost of 20 million Euro.
Colonel Joseph Ayettey, Commanding Officer of the Military Hospital, led the press on a tour of the newly upgraded part of the hospital known as Level 4. The upgrading was financed with the financial assistance of the United Nations because of Ghana's impeccable record in peacekeeping operations. The centre was commissioned in April this year.
