Director Appeals for More Staff and Funding at Upper East Regional Hospital

Bolgatanga: Dr. Joseph Kojo Tambil, the Medical Director of the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, has made a fervent appeal to the Ministry of Health for increased staffing and funding to address ongoing constraints that affect the hospital's operations. The appeal was made during a visit by Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, who was in the region to monitor the implementation of the Free Primary Health Care programme. According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Tambil emphasized that the hospital's ability to provide quality specialist care and support postgraduate medical training is being undermined by severe staffing shortages and inadequate funding. He highlighted a recent incident in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where the lack of staff meant that admitting an additional patient would have compromised the level of care for existing patients. Dr. Tambil urged that staffing allocations should consider the complexity of cases managed by regional hospitals rather than merely relying on patient attendance figures. He pointed out that complex surgical cases often require extended periods in the theatre and multiple health professionals to provide continuous care. The Medical Director also expressed concerns about funding for postgraduate training and the need for resources to facilitate visits by specialists from Kumasi and Tamale to conduct procedures and train residents. He linked inadequate revenue to what he described as low National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) tariffs for regional hospitals, exacerbated by the payment of primary-level tariffs for patients without referral letters from lower-level facilities. Dr. Tambil called on the Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Juaboso Constituency, to review tariff arrangements to ensure regional hospitals have sufficient resources for their operational needs. He also advocated for the acceleration of the fourth phase of the hospital's redevelopment project, aimed at transforming it into a tertiary-level facility. Despite being included in the 2025 and 2026 budgets, the project has yet to commence. The hospital's simultaneous efforts to expand postgraduate training, improve diagnostic services, and attract specialist support highlight the pressing need for governmental action. Dr. Tambil acknowledged the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service for their support but stressed the necessity for continued assistance to sustain specialist healthcare services. Following Dr. Tambil's appeal, the Ghana News Agency conducted a two-day observation at the hospital and confirmed the staffing challenges. The nursing unit, in particular, suffers from a severe shortage, with critical units operating with minimal staff. The hospital, which serves not only the entire Upper East Region but also parts of the North East and Upper West Regions and neighboring Burkina Faso, is managed by a limited number of Registered General Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, Community Health Nurses, and midwives. During the observation, it was noted that some wa rds were managed by skeletal staff, struggling to attend to an overwhelming number of patients. For instance, at the Accident and Emergency Unit, only three nurses were on duty for a morning shift, managing a unit at full capacity with assistance from National Service Persons, while several patients awaited attention. The situation underscores the critical need for increased staffing and funding to ensure the hospital can meet its growing responsibilities and provide sustainable specialist healthcare services to the region.