St Martin de Porres Hospital at Agomanya in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region has ventured into the production of natural mineral sachet water as part of efforts to create new revenue streams and strengthen its healthcare operations.
The hospital’s new product, Saint Martin’s Natural Mineral Water, was launched at a ceremony attended by hospital management, health professionals, staff and other stakeholders.
Management said the initiative was driven by the need to reduce operational costs, provide safe drinking water to the public and create employment opportunities for young people in the community.
Deputy Hospital Administrator of St Martin de Porres Hospital, Ms Grace Nettey, explained that the idea was conceived after management assessed the amount spent annually on purchasing sachet water for staff as part of workplace support.
She said the hospital realised that investing those resources into its own production facility would create a sustainable source of income while contributing to improved healthcare delivery.
“Personally, we buy water for our staff, and when we looked at the amount of money spent on purchasing water as part of staff motivation, we realised that the same resources could be channelled back into the system to help improve healthcare services,” she said.
Ms Nettey said the project would also provide job opportunities for residents, particularly the youth, while making quality drinking water available to people within the hospital’s catchment area.
She explained that although the venture was not directly a healthcare service, access to safe drinking water was essential to public health and helped reduce the risk of water-related diseases.
The Deputy Hospital Administrator said the hospital was confident the product would compete effectively with existing brands due to its quality, attractive packaging and compliance with regulatory requirements.
She disclosed that the production process, water source and purification systems had received certification from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), assuring consumers of the product’s safety.
“Our expectation is that we will penetrate the market and compete with existing brands,” she said.
Ms Nettey added that management had plans to expand the venture by introducing bottled mineral water in the future to meet increasing consumer demand.
She urged residents and businesses to support the new brand, describing Saint Martin’s Natural Mineral Water as a hygienically produced product backed by strict quality standards.
The hospital said the initiative formed part of a broader strategy to become a one-stop facility that provides healthcare and other essential services while contributing to the socio-economic development of the surrounding communities.
