The Cabinet has given a directive to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to take oversight responsibility for the administration of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).

The Public Relations Officer of the MoH, Mr Robert Cudjoe, explained that the directive had become necessary because it appeared the hospital was going to be run by the university as a private entity, a situation which would disadvantage the public.

“The government has given directives for the running of the hospital to come under the Ministry of Health. The Interim Management of the UGMC initially made it to look like the hospital was going to be run by the university. But, just like other health facilities which are under the ministry’s purview, the UGMC is not different and should be run as a public health facility,” he stated.

‘We want to beef up security’

Last Saturday, operatives of the National Security were said to have gone to the UGMC to take over the facility.

But Mr Cudjoe denied the reports of a take-over of the facility, explaining that the National Security was at the site on the ministry’s orders to assess the security situation and make recommendations on how to beef up security at the centre, which is currently being guarded by the security of the university.

He further explained that the contractors on the facility had notified the ministry that they would leave the site soon, since they had finished their work, hence the need to beef up security to protect the facility.

Although the facility was being guarded by the university security, he said, there had been cases of pilfering there.

Therefore, he said, it had become necessary for the ministry to engage the National Security to assess the situation and make recommendations appropriately.

“The security personnel will complement the work of the university security to ensure that the facility is kept safe until it is officially opened for use by the public,” he explained.

‘We are not taking over’

Mr Cudjoe refuted claims of a takeover of the UGMC by the ministry, saying that “the ministry only wants to streamline the activities of the facility in the interest of the public”.

When asked about the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the UGMC, he said it was supposed to be done in consultation with the Cabinet, just the way CEOs of other big hospitals were appointed.

“Now that the way has been cleared, few things need to be done, after which the hospital will start operations,” he added.

UG comment

However, in an interview, the acting CEO of the UGMC, Professor Aaron Lawson, said the management was under the University Council and was, therefore, not an interim board.

Although he declined to comment on the government’s directive, he said management had been given the clearance to recruit staff for the UGMC, saying the positions had been advertised and applicants shortlisted were currently being interviewed.

Background

More than a year after the UGMC had been inaugurated, the multi-million-dollar facility is yet to become operational.

The first phase of the centre was expected to be fully operational by July last year.

There were speculations that there was a tussle between the ministry and the university authorities as to who should be responsible for the management of the centre, but the ministry refuted the claims, saying that it was carrying out due diligence on the facility and how it would be managed.

First phase

Phase one of the project comprises eight separate buildings which house different specialised centres, such as emergency, imaging, operating theatres and laboratories.

The project was funded with a loan facility from Israel, with counterpart funding from Ghana. It was executed by Messrs Engineering and Development Consultants Limited, with medical consultation provided by the Sheba Medical Centre.

The super-tertiary or quarternary facility, which is an extension of tertiary care in reference to advanced levels of medicine, will also provide training and research.

The project is expected to have a phase two to add 350 beds to the facility.

The second phase will provide specialist facilities, including a heart centre, a cancer treatment centre, a rehabilitation centre and a hotel for families of patients.