The Ghana Adventist Health Services of the Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church has expressed its commitment to partner with the government to complete some Agenda 111 hospital projects across the country.
The commitment was made when a delegation from the Ghana Adventist Health Services, led by Dr James Antwi, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, as part of efforts to deepen collaboration between faith-based health institutions and the government.
During the meeting, the SDA delegation presented a proposal outlining four key areas in which it hopes to support healthcare delivery.
These include trauma care, holistic wellness, oncology and cancer treatment, as well as rehabilitation and other health services.
The proposal seeks to position the SDA Church as a strategic partner in strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities where access to quality medical services remains a challenge.
The engagement also focused on the completion and operationalisation of some of the health facilities under the government’s Agenda 111 programme.
Mr Akandoh stressed the importance of partnerships in meeting the country’s growing healthcare needs, saying government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of providing all the infrastructure and services required by the sector.
He called on faith-based organisations, including the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), as well as private sector institutions, to support efforts to complete and operationalise the unfinished Agenda 111 facilities.
The minister commended the SDA Church for its longstanding contribution to healthcare delivery, particularly in deprived and underserved communities, and welcomed its willingness to work with the government.
He assured potential partners that the government was prepared to provide the necessary guidance to organisations interested in supporting the completion of Agenda 111 projects.
According to the minister, such partnerships would not require partners to make financial contributions directly to government. Instead, organisations would be expected to provide direct support towards the completion of selected projects.
He encouraged CHAG and private sector players to identify specific Agenda 111 facilities or areas where they would like to contribute, with the government providing the necessary direction to facilitate the projects.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the minister to outline broader plans to expand healthcare infrastructure and improve access to specialised medical services across the country.
Mr Akandoh reiterated his position that doctors must accept postings to designated areas as part of efforts to ensure a more equitable distribution of health professionals nationwide.
He also disclosed plans by the government to construct six regional hospitals in the newly created regions.
According to him, funding has been provided for the construction of three of the six hospitals in 2026, while work on the remaining three is expected to begin in 2027.
The minister further announced plans to expand access to specialised cardiac care through the construction of two cardiology centres, one in Tamale and another at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.
He also disclosed that the cardiac catheterisation laboratory, commonly known as a Cath Lab, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital had recently been installed and commissioned by the President.
The facility is expected to strengthen the hospital’s capacity to diagnose and treat patients requiring specialised cardiac procedures.
Mr Akandoh also highlighted three major interventions being pursued by the government as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare and move Ghana towards Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
These are the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund.
The minister said the interventions formed part of broader efforts to remove barriers to healthcare access and improve the quality and availability of medical services.
The engagement between the SDA Ghana Adventist Health Services and the Ministry of Health comes as the government seeks greater involvement from faith-based organisations and private sector players in addressing gaps in the country’s health infrastructure.
With its long history of providing healthcare services, particularly in communities with limited access to medical facilities, the SDA Church’s proposed partnership could provide additional support towards completing and bringing some Agenda 111 facilities into operation.
The meeting therefore marks a further step towards strengthening collaboration between government and faith-based health institutions, with both sides seeking to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare for communities across Ghana.
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