By: Gregory Pilkington Amoah(02-09-2024)
It was announced in August that the Department of Surgery at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital was indefinitely suspending elective surgeries indefinitely due to faulty elevators at the department, with an exception given to emergency cases.
In light of this worrying development, Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament Kwabena Mintah Akandoh paid a surprise visit to assess the worrying situation.
However, upon his visit to the facility, officials of the department sought to preclude him on account that he had not sought official permission almost leading to an altercation.
Dr Adu Aryee, a surgeon at the facility questioned the Ranking Member’s identity and authority to conduct the visit without prior notice.
He is heard on tape quizzing;“I don’t know you, Who are you? Do you have any letter introducing you? I have never met you in my life. told “I don’t know you. Do I know?” to which the Ranking Member responds;
“I am a member of parliament. it has come to my attention that the lift at the surgical block is not working so I have come to see it for myself,”
Despite this blockade, Honourable Mintah Akandoh in an interaction with the Media called on the Health Ministry to as a matter of urgency fix the faulty elevators at the Department of Surgery at the Korle Bu teaching Hospital, a situation which has led to the indefinite suspension of all selective surgeries.
Describing the faulty elevators at the department as an unconscionable issue which should not be allowed to occur, he decried the crippling effects of this defective challenges which threatens the performance of surgery which is a very critical aspect of the dispensation of healthcare.
He posited that;
“It came to the attention of the public that Korle Bu has suspended indefinitely elective surgeries and the reason they sighted was as a result of faulty lifts. This morning I decided to pay a surprise visit to see for myself.
“For me, it is rather unconscionable for a whole hospital, a teaching hospital such as Korle Bu, to derelict its duty for just maintaining a lift to facilitate the movement of patients to get the quality of healthcare they need.
“It is rather unfortunate and therefore I am calling on the government, the Minister responsible for health, they cannot suspend surgeries indefinitely. Within the next 24 hours, we must see the end of this unconscionable behaviour. We cannot accept that reason,” he said.