KATH buys oxygen from open market as new plant burns in Central Medical Store fire
The authorities of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi have been forced to purchase oxygen for use from the open market at exorbitant prices.
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This is because the oxygen plant at the hospital is old and due for replacement and can only provide 384 cubic metres of oxygen in a day, while the hospital requires 734 cubic metres a day.
A new plant that had been purchased by the Ministry of Health for the hospital was unfortunately destroyed together with other medical supplies in the recent fire outbreak at the Tema Central Medical Stores.
The new plant would have been able to supply more than the hospital’s requirement of 734 cubic metres, which the 16-year-old plant cannot. The hospital installed the plant in 1999.
As of now, the hospital spends an average of GH¢2,500 a day to get the additional supply from private suppliers.
This came to light during a socialisation event at which the new Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Joseph Akpaloo, was introduced to journalists in Kumasi last Wednesday.
The two other teaching hospitals in the country, Korle Bu and Tamale, have had their oxygen plants changed recently.
The management of KATH, in the interim, has had to depend on Korle Bu for two of its used oxygen plants to serve as a stop-gap, while other sources are being explored to meet the deficit of 350 cubic metres of oxygen required by the hospital.
Presently, there is no shortage of oxygen at the hospital, but the authorities have bemoaned the risks posed to patients in the event of the unavailability of supplies.
“Hijack”
Apart from the loss of equipment, the hospital is grappling with the ‘hijacking’ of its facilities by patients who have been discharged but are unable to pay their bills and therefore have ended up staying on the premises of the hospital.
The patients, some of whom have been discharged more than six months ago, are still at the hospital, and officials are compelled to feed them three times a day.
The hospital is trying to get a permanent solution to what has become a lucrative venture for some patients who have been abandoned by their relatives.
Dr Akpaloo said allowing the patients to go home without paying the bills would be a great loss to the hospital and keeping them would also worsen the hospital’s financial situation.
Maternity block
In spite of all the challenges, Dr Akpaloo said the completion of the 41-year-old Maternity and Child Health blocks was on course.
Dr Akpaloo added that the hospital was collaborating with its partners, including the government, to raise $100 million to re-construct the block and to pay compensation to affected occupants of the land.
KATH has also introduced a new security measure to prevent the hospital from being used as a thoroughfare and to curb pilfering.
A set of new security cards has been printed to be issued out to ensure that vehicles use the same points of entry and exit.
It is also to check security lapses and to track those who enter and exit the facility.