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New Crystal Health Services CEO Dr Wisdom Amegbletor calls on the government to remove the tax on imported medical equipment.
According to him, private health establishments are taxed; which makes it difficult for them to provide sustainable health care.
In his view, giving a tax cut to healthcare facilities will go a long way in improving healthcare delivery and reinvesting in the business.
Dr Amegbletor revealed this after inaugurating the construction of a 100-bed hospital in Ashaiman.
The ceremony was also to begin work on the expansion of the New Crystal outlets at a cost of $ 7 million.
“Taxes are killing us. We pay 25% and that makes it difficult to import medical equipment to provide quality service. It must be tax free to help us, ”he lamented.
Seconding staff is also a challenge for Dr Amegbletor.
“The government trains and posts all staff. For a doctor or nurse to leave the public sector, you have to be prepared to pay more than they earn, ”he said.
According to him, the 100-bed hospital will provide primary, secondary and tertiary health care.
He said there are cases where cases are referred to Tema General Hospital but are referred to New Crystal while hospital staff try to secure a bed at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, in l 37 military hospital or Korle Bu university hospital.
The $ 7 million project includes the construction of a 50-bed facility in Michel Camp, a 100-bed facility in Ashaiman, and the upgrading of the Afenyo health facility to a 40-bed capacity hospital .
Tema’s New Crystal branch will be demolished and replaced with a hospital with a capacity of 80 beds, while Adjei Kojo’s facility will now have a capacity of 30 beds.
When complete, the 100-bed hospital will provide an ambulance dispatch center, trauma and emergency center in addition to a general OPD and inpatient care units.
Again, there will be a pediatric unit, an oxygen plant, a blood bank among others.
Concluding his remarks, Dr Amegbletor highlighted some chronic noncommunicable diseases that kill around 90,000 people each year.
He said urgent attention must be given to controlling these diseases.
For his part, the city director of health, Patience Ami Mamattah, called on everyone to support the healthcare providers who play a key role in the region.
Ashaiman Municipality Director General Albert Okyere said the Assembly will provide an enabling environment for private health facilities to thrive as the government improves health infrastructure in the region.
“Your vision is directly in line with that of the Municipal Assembly which is to make Ashaiman a livable city 24 hours a day as well as a secure environment,” he added.
Ashaiman Regent Nii Annan Adjor also congratulated New Crystal on the project.
The healthcare provider obtains a $ 2.5 million loan facility, advice and other technical support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
ECOWAS Director of AMCP Int. Health consultants Liliane Mpabanzi said they were happy and proud to be a part of New Crystal’s journey.
The financial partner, Investors and Partners represented by Baafour Otu-Boateng has ensured continued support to NCHS to make the facility a shining example in Ghana.
Meanwhile, Sawer Nanor and Sons Company Limited, as the contractor for the 100-bed hospital, will hire Ashaiman’s workforce to undertake the project.
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