Taxes killing private health facilities – Government told
The Chief Executive Officer of New Crystal Health Services, Dr. Wisdom Amegbletor is asking the government to remove the tax components on imported medical equipment.
According to him, private health facilities are saddled with taxes; making it difficult for them to offer sustainable healthcare.
In his view, giving a tax rebate to health facilities will go a long way to improve healthcare delivery and reinvestment into the business.
Dr. Amegbletor disclosed this after breaking grounds for the construction of a 100-bed hospital at Ashaiman.
The ceremony was also to commence expansion works at New Crystal outlets at a cost of $7 million.
“Taxes are killing us. We pay 25% and this makes it difficult to import medical equipment to offer quality service. It must be duty-free to help us,” he lamented.
For Dr. Amegbletor, the secondment of staff is also a challenge.
“Government trains and posts all staff. For you to get a doctor or nurse to leave the public sector, you must be willing to pay more than what they earn,” he said.
According to him, the 100-bed hospital will provide primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.
He said there are instances where cases are referred to Tema General Hospital but are returned to New Crystal while hospital staff try to get a bed at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, or the 37 Military Hospital or the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The $7 million project comprises of the construction of a 50-bed facility at Michel Camp, a 100-bed facility at Ashaiman and the upgrading of the Afenyo health facility to a 40-bed capacity hospital.
The New Crystal branch at Tema will be demolished and replaced with an 80-bed capacity hospital while the facility at Adjei Kojo will now have 30-bed capacity.
Once completed, the 100-bed hospital will provide an ambulance dispatch centre, trauma and emergency centre in addition to a general OPD and inpatient care units.
Again, there will be a pediatric unit, oxygen plant, blood bank among others.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Amegbletor put the spotlight on some chronic non-communicable diseases that kill about 90,000 people yearly.
He said urgent attention must be given to bring such diseases under control.
On his part, the Municipal Health Director, Patience Ami Mamattah called on all and sundry to support healthcare providers that play key roles in the area.
The Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive, Albert Okyere said the Assembly will provide an enabling environment for private health facilities to thrive as government improves health infrastructure in the area.
“Your vision is directly in line with that of the Municipal Assembly which is to make Ashaiman a 24-hour livable city as well as a secured environment,” he added.
The Regent of Ashaiman, Nii Annan Adjor also commended New Crystal for the project.
The healthcare provider is getting a loan facility of $2.5 million, advice and other technical support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
ECOWAS Director of AMPC Int. Health Consultants, Liliane Mpabanzi said they are happy and proud to be part of New Crystal’s journey.
Equity partner, Investisseurs et Partenaires represented by Baafour Otu-Boateng assured of continuous support to NCHS to make the facility a shinning example in Ghana.
Meanwhile, Sawer Nanor and Sons Company Limited as the contractor for the 100-bed hospital will engage workforce from within Ashaiman to undertake the project.
Source: Ghana News
