By Elizabeth PUNSU
Parliament’s Select Committee on Health has urged state-owned health facilities across the country to emulate the exemplary management and operational standards of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
This call came during the Committee’s working visit to selected health facilities in the Ashanti Region, where KATH stood out for its cleanliness, administrative efficiency and strategic use of internally generated funds (IGF) for infrastructure.
Following the Committee’s inspection of KATH, leader of the delegation Dr. Thomas Anabah expressed strong approval of the hospital’s operations, saying: “We are really impressed with the way the hospital is being managed”.
The commendation comes just days after Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) Dr. Atik Adam’s dismissal – over allegations of mismanagement and medical negligence which reportedly led to a patient’s death.
The termination followed an unannounced visit by Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who was visibly dissatisfied with the deteriorating state of healthcare delivery at the TTH – including the presence of non-functional essential medical equipment.
In stark contrast, Dr. Anabah described KATH – the primary referral facility for nearly 12 regions – as a model institution.
“This is one of the hospitals we visited where we had no cause to raise concerns about hygiene or operations. Kumasi South Hospital also showed similar standards. We believe other hospitals should emulate these examples,” he said.
He further praised KATH for reinvesting its internally generated funds (IGF) into renovating parts of the hospital.
“This track record shows that any funding support they receive will be put to good use and generate returns. We are very impressed encourage the management to apply for funding to procure the new equipment they need,” he added.
Dr. Anabah also mentioned the Committee’s intention of advising parliament to support efforts aimed at securing credit facilities for KATH to enhance its service delivery.
Despite the commendation, KATH’s management team highlighted several challenges that require urgent attention – especially with regard to the dialysis unit and other medical equipment which need additions to improve healthcare delivery.
The CEO of KATH, Professor Dr. Otchere Addai-Mensah, expressed gratitude for the Committee’s visit and feedback. He acknowledged the suggestions’ value and committed to implementing the ideas shared.
“As CEO, I promise to infuse the insights gathered from our discussions into our operations. Our goal is to minimise errors and deliver the highest quality of care to our patients and clients,” he stated.
