Madam Sharon Bar-li, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana has expressed happiness with the speedy progress of the construction of the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital.

She said the project, estimated to cost 217 million dollars, was a classic partnership between Ghana and Israel and would be the centre of excellence that would serve not only citizens of the country but neighbouring countries as well.

“I am confident that after the completion, this 617-bed hospital facility with all the necessary installed medical equipment and qualified staff will improve health care for all,” she said, when she inspected work on the project in Accra, on Thursday.

Madam Bar-li said though her tenure of office would officially come to an end by next week, she was sure of a continuous financial support from her country for the project.

“We are going to bring Israeli trainers who will help us achieve the goals of the hospital,” she said.

Professor Aaron Lawson, Project Coordinator of the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital, said so far 95 per cent of core and shell aspects of the project had been completed but the entire project was 65 per cent through.

“The phase one, which is currently under construction will provide 617-beds when completed whereas the phase two is going to increase the bed capacity to 1,000,” he said.

Prof Lawson said, “As part of the project package, about 80 Ghanaian health and non-health professionals are to undergo training at the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel.

“Currently, 20 senior specialists and consultants are in Sheba; to be followed by nurses, administrators, biomedical engineers and pharmacists,” he said.

He lauded Madam Bar-li for her support that had made the partnership between the two countries worthwhile.

The hospital was expected to start running by January 2016, Prof Lawson said.