After months of a back-and-forth between the University of Ghana and the Ministry of Health over who manages it, the University of Ghana Medical Centre has officially been opened.

Licensed by the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) as a quaternary hospital it was commissioned by a former President John Mahama in January 2017.

As a quaternary hospital, the facility becomes the first of its kind in the country and at full operation, it will provide sub-specialty services, such as advanced trauma care and organ transplantation.

It will also serve as a training centre for doctors who wish to specialise.

Some staff are currently at post at the referral hospital but Graphic Online understands that recruitment is ongoing for technical staff including doctors and other professionals.

A tour by Graphic Online of the facility showed that some beds were yet to be fitted with mattresses while some fittings were being made in the washrooms.

What is a quaternary hospital?

Quaternary is a generic term for a hospital which, as defined in US practice, provides sub-specialty services, such as advanced trauma care and organ transplantation. The difference between tertiary and quaternary hospitals is not always distinct, as many such services would be provided in the UK by tertiary care hospitals alone.
Source: Graphic.com