KATH ASSURES OF QUALITY MEDICAL CARE (BACK PAGE, JAN 2)

THE Chief Executive of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Prof. Ohene Adjei, has given an assurance that the hospital would continue to give quality medical attention to card bearers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), in spite of the huge amounts of money owed the hospital by some of the mutual schemes.
“They owe us heavily, but we have a duty to save lives and would not renege on this,” he said.
Speaking at a media interaction in Kumasi last Thursday at which he formally introduced himself to journalists in the region, Prof. Ohene Adjei said it was refreshing that the Government had begun making moves to amend the NHIS Law in order to improve the payment system.
“Even before this comes into effect, the new Ashanti Regional Manager is also helping to have the mutual schemes settle the debts they owe us,” he stressed.
The interaction afforded the new chief executive who took office only about three months ago the opportunity to formally introduce himself to the media in the region.
A Professor in microbiology, Prof. Ohene Adjei took over from Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, who was asked to proceed on leave by the Government.
Prof. Ohene Adjei maintained that KATH was positioning itself to meet its vision of becoming a centre of excellence.
He appealed to the media to help project the good image of the hospital as it strived towards achieving the vision of a centre of excellence.
He said the media was a critical stakeholder in shaping the future of the hospital and it was, therefore, important that they supported the hospital to walk the path of progress.
“Fortunately, we have a very capable public relations officer here who is always ready to help you as you look for information about the hospital,” he said.
The CEO noted that most of the negative stories the public put out against the hospital were unfounded and it was important that journalists who wanted to report on such stories did double-checks before going out.
He said, for instance, that there was a time a story went out that the lighting system at the theatre was not functioning, when, in fact, there was nothing like that.
He stated that though the hospital was facing some challenges, its management team and the staff were working hard to manage the situation, so that precious lives could be saved.
The Medical Director of KATH, Dr Patrick Eric Karikari, informed the press that the hospital’s administration was supporting young doctors to undertake specialists training, so they would return to serve in the hospital.
He said through this, the hospital had been able to attract and retain some doctors.