Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi
Authorities of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have set 2013 as the period to achieve KATH’s set target of becoming a medical tourist centre which offers quality and affordable health care to patients in the country, the sub-region and other parts of the world.
According to the Chief Executive of the KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, the medical tourist centre, when established, would be a conducive place for patients from every corner of the world to converge and access excellent health care delivery services.
That, he said, would enable the country to generate sufficient foreign exchange for sustainable socio-economic development to raise the living standards of Ghanaians.
Speaking to journalists in Kumasi on Monday as part of his end-of-year annual encounter with the media, Dr Nsiah Asare said the KATH was on course in its efforts to achieve a centre of excellence of international repute.
The annual media interaction has been instituted by the authorities of KATH to offer a platform for journalists in Kumasi for them to have fruitful discussions on the challenges facing the hospital and the way forward.
Dr Nsiah Asare said the initiative to position KATH as a centre of excellence of international repute was mooted about four years ago and it was 95 per cent complete.
He said projects such as the Accident Emergency Unit and the modern mortuary would be inaugurated by the end of April.
He said while the Accident Emergency Unit would offer quality service to accident victims in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs, the mortuary would be able to preserve bodies very well.
Dr Asare said already the Oncology Department, which was designed to offer quality health care service to cancer patients and the Physiotherapy Department, which rehabilitates patients, are already providing excellent services.
The chief executive said the KATH authorities were poised to address all the challenges facing the tertiary hospital to enable it become attractive and unique to patients in terms of quality health care delivery.
He also said the maternity and children’s blocks, which were currently under construction, were the other projects which would enhance the operations of the hospital when they were completed, to reduce the congestion at those two sections.
He commended the government for the financial support it had provided the hospital over the years which he said had made it possible for the hospital to be in the present condition.
Dr Asare also commended the media for their collaboration and urged them to sustain the relationship to enable the hospital realise its dreams.
The Regional Editor of the Ghana News Agency, Mrs Elizabeth Kankam Boadu, commended the authorities for the achievements chalked up by the hospital so far, but urged them to supervise some of their medical staff very well to enhance quality health care delivery.
She said while some of the medical officers and nurses treated patients with compassion, and helped them to recover speedily, the attitude of others left much to be desired.
Such negative attitude, Mrs Boadu said, sometimes compounded the problems of patients and sent them to their graves prematurely.
She said it would be worthwhile if KATH authorities organised regular workshops for the nurses, especially on how to cater adequately for patients in order to improve the relationship between patients and the medical staff.
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