Ho Teaching Hospital is striving to become Ghana’s top medical tourism hub while managing growing patient numbers, overcrowding, and rising mortality rates. Progress includes increased staff and outpatient visits, but challenges such as higher maternal mortality and fluctuating admissions persist. Leadership emphasizes a commitment to improving services and developing the medical tourism sector.
The Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) aims to become Ghana’s leading medical tourism hub despite facing challenges like a rising patient load and mortality rates. During its 2024 Annual Performance Review, CEO Dr. John Tampuori reported a significant increase in the hospital’s delivery services, attracting more patients but also leading to bed shortages and growing mortality numbers.
Staffing levels at HTH have also increased, with the number of employees rising from 1,532 in 2023 to 1,590 in 2024. Yet, attrition among medical personnel has grown from 63 to 83. Dr. Tampuori emphasized the hospital’s commitment to retaining talent to meet its healthcare and tourism goals effectively.
Patient services showed mixed results as OPD visits increased slightly from 211,104 to 212,129. In contrast, total hospital admissions fell from 11,769 to 10,936, accompanied by rising bed occupancy rates from 68.9% to 73.5%. Surgeries performed also saw a slight decline, while an alarming increase in maternal mortality occurred with rates rising from 18 to 20 deaths per 100,000 live births.
However, there was a positive trend in neonatal mortality, which decreased from 63 to 55 deaths per 1,000 live births. Dr. Tampuori assured that HTH is dedicated to improving maternal and neonatal healthcare to further reduce these rates, alongside enhancing diagnostic services such as radiology and laboratory procedures.
HTH’s leadership noted an increase in total hospital deaths, rising to 1,010 from 1,002, indicating a mortality rate rise from 8.6% to 9.4%. Yet, Dr. Tampuori remains focused on reversing these trends through innovative healthcare delivery. Meanwhile, strategic partnerships with local and international organizations aim to improve service quality.
The hospital’s Medical Tourism Coordinator, Mr. Kafui Kanyi, highlighted the potential of medical tourism to create jobs and boost Ghana’s GDP. He urged the Ministry of Tourism to develop health tourism as a specialized sector and implement policies to enhance Global healthcare standards, establishing a Health Tourism Coordination Unit within the Ministry of Health.
HTH’s leadership remains optimistic that, with stakeholder engagement and governmental support, the hospital can enhance both local and international healthcare services while establishing itself as Ghana’s premier medical tourism destination.
The Ho Teaching Hospital is facing increasing service demand amidst challenges such as overcrowding and rising mortality rates. Despite a growing workforce, higher attrition rates of medical personnel have emerged. Positive trends in OPD visits and reduced neonatal mortality indicate some success; however, significant concerns remain, notably maternal mortality. HTH aims to strengthen its position as a medical tourism hub through collaborations, compliance with international standards, and government support.
Original Source: gna.org.gh
