The Volta and Oti Regional Directorate of the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) has commenced its First Quarter Health Facilities Monitoring Exercise with an official inspection tour across selected health institutions in the region. The exercise was led by the Volta and Oti Regional Director, Divine Kporha and his regulatory team, beginning with visits to public and private health facilities within the Ho Municipality.
Addressing facility administrators during the tour, the Regional Director Divine Kporha stated that the monitoring exercise forms part of HeFRA’s statutory mandate under the law to regulate, license and supervise health institutions in Ghana. He indicated that the periodic inspections are essential to ensuring that healthcare facilities operate within approved standards and provide safe, quality and reliable services to the public.
The team assessed key operational areas, including licensing status, adequacy of infrastructure, availability of qualified health professionals, infection prevention and control systems, equipment maintenance, emergency preparedness, documentation practices and overall patient safety measures. Facility managers were also engaged on compliance gaps and measures required to meet regulatory benchmarks.
The Regional Director further elaborated on the core functions of HeFRA, which include registering and licensing health facilities, conducting routine and unannounced inspections, enforcing compliance with national healthcare standards, investigating complaints from the public, and applying sanctions where facilities fail to meet regulatory requirements. He emphasised that the Agency is not only an enforcement body but also works collaboratively with stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery.
According to the Director, the First Quarter Monitoring Exercise will extend beyond the Ho Municipality to cover Southern Volta, Northern Volta and subsequently the Oti Region. The team is expected to interact with administrators of hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, diagnostic centres and other healthcare providers to ensure uniform compliance across the two regions.
Health facilities have been urged to strictly adhere to all licensing and regulatory requirements, particularly under Act 829. The Regional Director cautioned that non-compliance will attract the appropriate enforcement actions, which may include fines, suspension of operations, or closure of facilities operating outside the legal framework.
He reiterated that the overarching goal of the exercise is to safeguard public health, enhance accountability within the healthcare sector and strengthen public confidence in health service delivery. By upholding high standards across facilities, HeFRA aims to position the Volta and Oti Regions as centres of excellence in healthcare provision and emerging hubs for medical tourism.
