The Minister of State Designate for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has pledged to make sure that funds used to buy some COVID-19 vaccinations that haven’t yet been delivered are transferred to the procurement of other vaccines needed for immunization in the country.

He indicated that the Health Sector needs medication for children. He specified that vaccines for diseases like meningitis, and the six killer childhood diseases (measles, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis and poliomyelitis) need to be stocked in all health centers and hospitals nationwide. He indicated that these vaccines are needed regularly. “I will work hard to make sure we don’t lose out. Nobody takes our money without delivering service” he stated.

The Minister Designate also promised that all front-line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 period would be fully compensated. Out of 6,901 front-line healthcare workers expected to benefit from the GHC 10 million insurance cover, only 418 healthcare workers received their insurance covers. The Minister Designate assured that those who did not receive their package will receive theirs.

“Once we bought this policy at a price, the ingredients in the policy refer to those it had to cover. The ingredients should be exhausted so that if the policy says it could cover a maximum of 50,000 workers, it means that we would find a way to vet frontline workers up to that tune and make sure that the right thing is done”
Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye

Also, concerning the access to and cost of dialysis, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye indicated that the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the management of Teaching Hospitals must have an arrangement that enhances access to dialysis treatments.

He suggested that the Ministry of Health could engage in public-private arrangements to ensure that dialysis facilities are available for treatment. “Availability of the facility is first but some of these consumables have tax handles on them so we must work closely with the Finance, and government so that these things are taken care of” he added.

Boye Defends Demolition Of La Hospital.

Moreover, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye defended the government’s decision to demolish the La General Hospital. He argued that the hospital was a “death trap structure” that posed a looming danger to workers and patients. He indicated that the hospital’s management raised concerns over the safety of the building, and suggested a structural audit to assess its condition.

“For La General Hospital, because I worked there, I have a personal experience of some of the discussions that led to the demolition. When I was working in La, there were occasions while in the ward, when a concrete slab would fall off the building and hit the ground. That structure was a death trap.”
Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye

Dr. Okoe-Boye further noted that during his tenure as the MP for Ledzokuku constituency, he accompanied the Second Lady, Mrs. Samira Bawumia to the La General Hospital to inquire about the needs of the hospital. “They told us that their major concern was that of the facility and these were the concerns that led to a structural audit which stated that it was not fit for service,” he stated.

Dr. Okoe-Boye assured the public of his commitment to collaborating with the residents of La to guarantee the project’s completion. He indicated that the government is committed to the provision of proper healthcare services and will work to ensure that the people of La do not suffer the cost that comes with accessing healthcare outside of their community.

The La General Hospital was demolished in 2020 due to reported structural defects. The hospital is currently awaiting reconstruction after four years of remaining in the ruins. The government’s decision to wreck the building has faced substantial public criticism, especially from the opposition NDC. In the Annual Budget presented to Parliament recently, the Finance Minister indicated that contractors have commenced work on rebuilding the hospital.