Ho Teaching Hospital set sights on Medical Tourism

The Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta Region aims to become Africa's top medical tourism destination.

The hospital is expanding its infrastructure and investing in health technology. It is also acquiring modern equipment and building human resources for a one-stop medical facility.

Recently, the hospital launched new facilities and specialist services. These include endoscopy, neurology, pain management, CT scans, ECGs, echocardiograms, and oncology.

A Medical Tourism Coordinating Department has been established. This department will lead efforts to attract medical tourists.

At the 2024 Annual Performance Review Conference, Anthony Bells Kafui Kanyi spoke about the potential of medical tourism. He described it as "juicy" with great opportunities for Ghana and Africa.

Kanyi noted that this sector could create jobs in health, transportation, hospitality, and other services. It could also boost the local economy significantly.

He emphasized that Ghana has a strong international reputation. To capitalize on this potential, investments are needed to attract international patients.

Currently, only 0.6 percent of visitors come to Ghana for healthcare. Kanyi stressed that this needs to change for better economic outcomes.

He praised the government’s vision to improve tertiary hospitals for health tourism. He called for collective support to make Ghana a medical tourism hub in Africa.

Kanyi urged the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts to develop health tourism like ecotourism. This would help create jobs within the value chain.

He suggested encouraging experienced Ghanaian consultants abroad to return home. Their expertise could help grow niche areas in medical tourism.

Kanyi also recommended empowering hospitals for international accreditation. This would ensure they meet global healthcare standards and attract more patients.

Dr. John Tampuori, CEO of Ho Teaching Hospital, highlighted recent improvements in specialized services. These enhancements have increased public confidence in their offerings.

Outpatient visits rose from 211,104 in 2023 to 212,129 in 2024. However, maternal mortality increased from 18 deaths in 2023 to 20 deaths in 2024.

Dr. Tampuori assured that healthcare services would improve through strategic collaborations both locally and internationally.

Volta Regional Minister James Gunu discussed the conference theme focused on stakeholder participation in healthcare innovation. He noted it aligns with the government's goal of making Ghana a hub for advanced healthcare services.

Gunu praised recent developments at Ho Teaching Hospital and affirmed government support for upgrades.

According to him, plans outlined in the 2025 budget will enhance HTH into a comprehensive specialist hospital. This upgrade will improve healthcare accessibility throughout the Volta Region.

Additionally, changes to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will provide better financial support for hospitals and patients.