Health expert appeals to gov’t to subsidize private health provider’s utility bills

Private health practitioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Living Waters Specialist Hospital at Ejisu - Krapa in the Ejisu Juaben municipal Assembly in the Ashanti region, Dr. Gabriel Sakyi Coffie has called on the Nana Addo government to assist private health providers by subsidising their utility bills to enhance delivering quality health care in the country.

According to him, the private health sector is faced with huge financial burdens such as paying high electricity and water bills which, alongside operational costs, have taken a toll on them, compelling them to charge exorbitant fees for services rendered to patients.

Dr. Gabriel Sakyi made the call during the hospital's 2nd Founder’s Day celebration, which is celebrated every year to commemorate the birthday of the CEO of the hospital, Dr. Gabriel Sakyi Coffie.

“The utilities bills the private hospitals are paying is too much, are these are paid by us without any subsidies from the government. This forces us to increase the cost of our services and sometimes it drives patients away who might need our services to survive. We also contribute to the health care delivery in the country, and must also enjoy government subsidies", he said.

Dr. Coffie also called on the government to settle their arrears of payment of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims to enable them deliver their responsibilities.

“For three months now, the scheme has not paid our arrears. It is seriously affecting our work, no money to pay our staff and to buy logistics. To serve our patients well, we need to borrow from the bank which comes with interests. We therefore appeal to the scheme to pay us in order to survive in the health industry,” he appealed.


Spelling Bee competition

As part of activities marking the 2nd annual Founder’s Day, a Spelling Bee competition was organised for schools within and around the Ejisu Juaben Municipality to promote education in the area.

Out of a total number of 24 schools which participated, four schools, Kentinkrono M/A JHS, David Woode Academy, Ejisu modele and Ejisu Presby schools advanced to the grand final stage.

Ejisu Model School were winners after the finals with 64 points, followed by Kentinkrono M/A JHS with 55 points, with David Woode Academy and Ejisu Presby JHS placing 3rd and 4th with 48 and 45 points respectively.

Dr. Gabriel Sakyi Coffie, in his closing remarks, promised to extend the Spelling Bee competition to the regional level from next year to make the programme more competitive.


The participants and their schools were awarded over 4,000 Living Waters Specialist Hospital branded books, football, branded jerseys and an undisclosed amount of money and glass plaques.

Speaking at the end of the program and presentation of awards, the Ejisu Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon. Serwaa Daakyi commended the hospital for organising such a programme, aimed at improving the level of education in the municipality.

Hon. Serwaa Daakyi charged parents to make their wards’ education their priority, as the best legacy they can offer the children.