The Minister for Health Designate, Dr. Bernard Okoh Boye says the Korle Bu Hospital can be a forex earner for the country through health tourism.
He noted this possibility as he believes Korle-Bu is well positioned to be a forex earner through medical tourists.
Dr. Okoe-Boye cited countries like Dubai, Israel, the UK, and the US generating significant foreign exchange revenue from healthcare and emphasized that “If we manage this facility very well and the government also supports you well, you have what it takes to take care of people who will be paying in foreign currencies.”
Speaking to the media after the Ministry of Health Management embarked on a day’s tour to some medical facilities in Accra, he revealed that Ghana is on the right path to promoting health tourism internationally.
He commended the hospital for its progress towards healthcare delivery after the executive director of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital presented the state of the health facility to him.
Additionally, Dr. Okoe-Boye revealed that the government is set to introduce hospital booking systems.
This initiative, he believes will reduce the long waiting queues by unwell individuals seeking medical attention.
He said the pilot face is set to begin by the third quarter of 2024.
“By the third quarter of 2024, this government can pilot a booking system for hospital visitations in this country. It is not rocket science to have a system that makes it possible for the ordinary Ghanaian; be it a market woman or a shoemaker to know that it is when I come to the hospital around 12 pm that is when I see the doctor,” he said.
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Source: Angelina Riley Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
