Otumfuo calls on doctors to support government facilities
THE Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged doctors to help government hospitals to acquire essential equipment instead of directing their support to private facilities for personal gains.
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He noted that some doctors were quick to direct patients to private facilities, which most of the times they have interest in, but would not do same for state institutions.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu made those remarks when a 12-member board of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) called on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
The board members, headed by Dr Ken Dadzie Sagoe, were at the palace to formally introduce themselves to the Asantehene.
Otumfuo urged the board to make inputs for future purchases of essential equipment for KATH because most often than not, equipment was brought to the hospitals without essential parts or without personnel to man it.
He advised the new board to conduct a re-evaluation of the 40-year-old maternity block to present a realistic budget to the government for approval and release of funds.
The Asantehene noted that the cause of the delay in executing the project was the result of submission of unrealistic budget to the government.
Currently, the hospital needs about 100 million euro to complete the project which was started in 1975.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu has initiated a tripartite meeting among Manhyia, the board of KATH and the military command, especially those in charge of the Central Command, to find ways of giving back lands belonging to KATH, which are currently being occupied by the soldiers.
KATH expansion projects have stalled because the military, which occupied portions of the hospital land, have failed to relocate on grounds that the place housed critical equipment.
The Board Chairman, Dr Sagoe, announced that plans were afoot to establish a cardio centre and Plastic Surgery Department at the hospital.