Managers at the OKomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the nation\u2019s second largest referral facility, have expressed worry over rising utility bills, something that is putting severe strain on its finances.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”XYa1JrQL0Dw8K2YQdujQlDXdnDcg2dm1″]The situation has been worsened by the current energy crisis; \u00a0the hospital spends GH\u00a2141,000 to buy fuel to power its four stand-by generators.<\/p>\n
Dr. Joseph Akpaloo, the Chief Executive, told an annual performance review meeting that an average of GH\u00a2299,000, was paid in electricity bills every month.<\/p>\n
He said this combined with chronic delay in insurance claim payments by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), was presenting financial difficulties.<\/p>\n
Dr Akpaloo said in the light of this, the management was now encouraging all the units and directorates to \u201cmake conscious efforts to secure donations and partnerships from philanthropists and corporate organizations to help improve on their operations\u201d.<\/p>\n
Besides, it was exploring the possibility of securing joint partnership arrangements under the government\u2019s public private partnership (PPP) policy for the development of critically needed facilities.<\/p>\n
He said notwithstanding the challenges, some significant achievements were made in year 2014, citing the reduction in maternal deaths to 108 from the previous year\u2019s total of 126.<\/p>\n
Dr Akpaloo attributed the progress to the establishment of a six-bed mini intensive care unit at the obstetrics and gynaecology directorate and the attachment of specialists and consultants from the hospital to some leading peripheral facilities in Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Eastern, Central and the Western regions.<\/p>\n
He said KATH would continue to encourage timely reporting of pregnant women to the hospitals and prompt referral of complicated cases to help bring down the high maternal mortality rate.<\/p>\n
Dr. Akpaloo again spoke of the procurement of essential and vital resources for effective service delivery, completion of a police post at the cost of GH\u00a228,494 to improve security of staff and property and renovation of the Ear, Nose and Throat Directorate at GH\u00a2107,410. Under a build, operate and transfer (BOT) arrangement, contract had been awarded for the construction of a 131-bed hostel to provide comfortable and safe accommodation for visiting patients\u2019 relatives and he gave the contract sum as GH\u00a2848,000.<\/p>\n
Dr. Ken Sagoe, the Board Chairman, commended the management and staff for their hard work and dedication amid challenging working conditions and pledged to help address the challenges.<\/p>\n
Source: GNA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Managers at the OKomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the nation\u2019s second largest referral facility, have expressed worry over rising utility bills, something that is putting severe strain on its finances. [contextly_sidebar id=”XYa1JrQL0Dw8K2YQdujQlDXdnDcg2dm1″]The situation has been worsened by the current energy crisis; \u00a0the hospital spends GH\u00a2141,000 to buy fuel to power its four stand-by generators. Dr. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":11944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[15,43,38],"yoast_head":"\n