Cassiel Ato Forson earmarks GH‵40.3bn for health in 2027 Budget

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced a GH₵40.3 billion allocation to the Ministry of Health in the 2027 Budget, aimed at overhauling healthcare infrastructure and expanding emergency services across Ghana. The significant financial commitment focuses on completing major hospital projects, strengthening social health protections, and modernising service delivery through digital innovation. This funding plan is designed to improve maternal and child health outcomes while addressing long-standing systemic challenges within the sector.

A substantial GH₵8.9 billion is dedicated to hospital construction and the completion of ongoing projects. This includes GH₵1 billion specifically for 35 district hospitals under the Agenda 111 programme and another GH₵1 billion to finish work on the Eastern and Western Regional Hospitals. The 2027 roadmap also features the construction of two specialist hospitals, six additional regional facilities, and a dedicated mother and child centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to ease congestion in specialized care.

To ensure financial accessibility for citizens, the government has allocated GH₵10.2 billion to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and GH₵2.6 billion to the MahamaCares Fund. Mental health services have also received targeted attention, with GH₵70 million earmarked for psychiatric hospitals and GH₵20 million for the Mental Health Fund. These allocations are intended to broaden the scope of covered services and provide a safety net for vulnerable patients requiring specialist treatments.

In a direct response to the persistent "no-bed syndrome," the budget supports the launch of a pilot electronic bed management system. Currently being tested at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, the system will be integrated with the National Ambulance Service to provide real-time data on bed availability during emergencies. This initiative is part of a broader GH₵11 million investment in the e-Health Project, which will be complemented by the establishment of new ambulance stations and enhanced training for first-aid personnel to improve nationwide emergency response times.