Ghana is joint third with Morocco in hospital beds per population ratio in Africa in the World Health Organisation (WHO) ranking after South Africa and Egypt.

Deputy Communications Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said this when he was hosted by presidential staffer, James Agyenim Boateng on JOYNEWS’ Majority Caucus program, Wednesday. 

Majority Caucus this week highlighted on the health achievements and policies of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to Mr. Ofosu, up until 2013, the total number of beds in public and quasi-public health institutions was about 11600 nationwide and the rest were taken care of by private hospitals.

He said in the last four to five years under President Mahama’s supervision, government has invested a lot of resources in establishing hospitals of various sizes.  

This, Mr. Ofosu said, would ensure that by 2018 when the programs are completed another 6000 are made available for the people of Ghana.

“As at 2014, Ghana’s ratio was 0.9 beds to 1000 people. After these investments, it would take it to 1.2 beds to a 1000 people,” Mr Ofosu said.   

WHO and other agencies concerned with health have a benchmark in measuring healthcare where every country must have a number of hospital beds to a population ratio of 30 beds to 1000 people.

The Deputy Minister said the President is undertaking two teaching hospitals. First is the $217 million 617-bed University of Ghana Teaching Hospital located on the University campus, which when completed will become the most modern and sophisticated hospital in Ghana.

The second is Pase II of the Tamale Teaching Hospital project, which will be turned into a 900-bed hospital to take care of the health needs of the people in the northern sector.