At the 45th anniversary celebration of Midway Hospital in Accra, Greater Accra Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Robert Amesiya, issued a compelling reminder to government policymakers: private sector hospitals that deliver quality, affordable care must receive greater institutional support if Ghana is to meet its universal health coverage goals. Reflecting on the theme “Honouring a legacy, advancing a vision: 45 years of transforming lives,” Dr. Amesiya lauded Midway Hospital’s resilience in shouldering its own operational costs and expanding specialised services, describing it as “a good example for other facilities to emulate” in bridging the access gap across the nation.
Dr. Amesiya contrasted the struggles of public facilities—often hampered by bureaucratic delays and funding constraints—with the notable progress achieved by select private institutions that have demonstrated efficient leadership and strong values. “Not every private hospital can boast of such success,” he acknowledged, but insisted that for those like Midway, which have achieved remarkable growth through strategic planning and community partnerships, “they deserve a lot of support” from government agencies. His remarks underscored the potential for public–private collaboration to reinforce Ghana’s health system rather than foster competition or duplication of services.
Behind Midway Hospital’s 45 years of service lies the vision of its late founder, Dr. Joseph Ameni Quarshie, whose dedication to dignity and patient-centred care laid the groundwork for sustained excellence. Although he passed away in 2020, his guiding principles have been carried forward by his family and the hospital’s leadership team. Speaking at the celebration, Medical Director Dr. Gifty Quarshie-Ngissah paid tribute to Dr. Quarshie’s pioneering spirit, noting that his foresight in integrating both basic and specialised care under one roof continues to shape the hospital’s identity and mission.
In the last five years, under the stewardship of Dr. Quarshie-Ngissah and her colleagues, Midway Hospital has undergone transformative upgrades to meet evolving healthcare needs. The introduction of dialysis services, advanced orthopaedics, endoscopy, fertility treatments, and a modern emergency unit has expanded the hospital’s clinical portfolio, enabling it to serve a wider cross-
section of patients. This period also saw Midway achieve full accreditation as a private hospital and earn recognition for exceptional customer service, attaining a 98 percent satisfaction rating in 2024—an achievement Dr. Quarshie-Ngissah attributed to unwavering commitment to quality and ongoing staff development.
Recognizing that sustainable healthcare requires broad stakeholder engagement, the anniversary programme included a series of community-focused initiatives. Free National Health Insurance Scheme registrations were offered to residents of Okaikoi North and surrounding areas, and year-long corporate and school health education sessions have been launched to promote preventive care. These activities reflect the hospital’s belief that public health extends beyond its walls and that empowering citizens with knowledge and insurance coverage is crucial to reducing disease burden and financial hardship.
Amplifying the call for support, Mrs. Freda Yahan Duplan, Board Chairperson of Zenith Bank Ghana and Chairperson of the anniversary event, positioned Midway Hospital as a “beacon of hope” whose achievements demonstrate what disciplined leadership and faith can accomplish. She urged corporate Ghana and other stakeholders to view investment in healthcare not merely as corporate social responsibility but as critical human-capital development. “It was imperative for private institutions like Midway to partake in national conversation and be given a seat at the table in policy decisions,” she asserted, highlighting the need for inclusive frameworks that leverage private-sector agility and innovation to strengthen national health objectives.
Dr. Amesiya’s advocacy comes at a pivotal moment as Ghana strives to close equity gaps in health access and quality. While the National Health Insurance Scheme has expanded coverage, persistent challenges—such as service delivery bottlenecks in public hospitals and uneven
distribution of specialists—underscore the urgency of mobilizing all capable providers. By strategically partnering with high-performing private hospitals, government agencies can amplify service capacity, introduce complementary financing mechanisms, and foster competitive benchmarks that elevate the standard of care across both sectors.
The plea for enhanced support is not an appeal for unregulated market forces but a call to craft policies and incentives that align private-sector growth with public health imperatives. This could include targeted tax relief, subsidized access to diagnostic equipment, streamlined accreditation processes, and mechanisms for government procurement of specialised services. When well-designed, such measures can enable private hospitals to expand infrastructure, recruit and retain skilled staff, and maintain affordable pricing—thereby advancing the collective goal of ensuring no Ghanaian is denied timely, high-quality care due to cost or geography.
Midway Hospital’s journey from a modest clinic founded in 1980 to an accredited, full-service institution exemplifies the transformative potential of visionary leadership coupled with supportive policy environments. As Dr. Amesiya noted, the extraordinary progress of such facilities must inform future health-sector strategies that harness both public and private resources. In doing so, Ghana can galvanize its healthcare ecosystem, reduce pressure on overstretched public hospitals, and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage that is equitable, resilient, and sustainable.
Ultimately, the call issued at Midway’s 45th anniversary resonates beyond a single institution. It challenges government and regulatory bodies to reimagine partnerships that transcend traditional sectoral divides. It invites private providers to continue raising the bar for service quality and accountability. And it reminds the Ghanaian public that achieving health for all rests on shared commitment, innovative collaboration, and the unwavering support of the institutions that dedicate themselves to life-saving care. As Ghana charts its path toward comprehensive health coverage, the lessons of Midway Hospital stand as a testament to what can be achieved when mission-driven hospitals receive the support they deserve.
