Let compassion remain at the Heart of Healthcare despite artificial intelligence

The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has urged health professionals to ensure that compassion, dignity and respect remain central to patient care, even as technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) continue to transform healthcare delivery.

He said AI could help reduce the workload of health professionals and improve the delivery of services, but could not replace the human connection and compassion needed to care for patients.

“AI has come to ease the work we do, but AI will never have compassion for human beings. That is our strength. If we lose that, there will not be any difference between us and AI,” he said.

The Minister made the remarks during an unannounced visit to the Weija-Gbawe Children’s Specialist Hospital on Friday in Accra, where he assessed the facility’s operations and engaged management and staff on efforts to expand services.

Mr Akandoh expressed satisfaction with the commencement of operations at the hospital and directed the immediate deployment of 10 medical doctors and 30 nurses and midwives to strengthen the workforce and support the expansion of services.

He also urged the hospital’s management and staff to ensure that the facility and its equipment were properly maintained to the required standards.

The Minister welcomed the hospital’s accreditation under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), saying the Ministry would continue to support management in addressing outstanding challenges and ensuring that patients received quality care.

The Acting Medical Superintendent, Dr Nana Okine Brago, said the hospital, which has a capacity of about 120 beds, began operations on August 17, 2026.

He explained that the facility currently operates as a secondary-level referral centre, with preparations underway to introduce inpatient services as additional health personnel are deployed.

The visit forms part of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to assess health facilities, identify operational challenges, and ensure that public health infrastructure is fully utilised to improve access to quality healthcare and patient outcomes.