The University of Ghana Hospital, popularly known as the Legon Hospital was built and commissioned in 1957 and is officially owned by the University of Ghana. It was Set up almost the same time as the University was found in Achimota School West Compound. It was put under the charge of Dr. A.B. Boyd (a Scottish Doctor) who was assisted by one staff nurse (SN). The hospital started as a clinic sharing all facilities in common with the Achimota Hospital.
In 1959, five (5) personnel consisting of a doctor and four nurses moved from Achimota to start work at the then University College Hospital. The facilities of the hospital grew over time to include Maternity Ward and Staff Quarters. The Hospital is currently situated at an easily accessible area behind the Legon Police Station at 12.6 kilometers off the main Accra – Aburi road. It is generally referred to as a quasi-government hospital with a bed capacity of 130 comprising of General Wards, Maternity Wing, Casualty and Emergency Ward, Pediatric Unit, Dental Unit and Operating Theatre.
The Hospital was originally established to cater for the health needs of the student population, staff and their dependents. In 1976/77 as the community started developing, the inhabitants of its fast growing environs began to seek health care from the Hospital. In recognition of the change in the function of the University Hospital in 1976/77, the Ministry of Health (MOH) readily accepted to assist the hospital yearly with drugs, supplies equipment and instruments. This arrangement worked quite well until 1986/87 when the” cash-and- carry” system was introduced and the assistance to the hospital ceased. The Hospital readily offered its services to these people as there was no other hospital in the whole Legon vicinity. With time, the hospital has assumed the functions of a District Hospital and has a wide catchments area.
We have also established a Primary Health Care outreach programme aimed at teaching and advising students, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the general public about personal hygiene, good diet, child care, including immunization against childhood communicable diseases, family planning and school health services.
The University Hospital can therefore be viewed as part of the hierarchy for the delivery of health services in the Greater Accra Region whose population is currently estimated at about 5 million. The main referral point for the hospital is the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and 37 Hospital. The hospital has introduced specialist consultancy services. In view of this, referral to Korle-Bu and 37 is very minimal.
When the hospital was first established in 1957, the students’ population was only 240. There has been tremendous increase since then.
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