The Minority Caucus in Parliament has criticised the government’s decision to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), describing the move as a reactionary measure that fails to address the underlying causes of the country’s persistent “No Bed Syndrome.”
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, the Minority argued that the challenges facing KATH stem from long-standing structural deficiencies in Ghana’s healthcare system rather than the actions of a single hospital administrator.
The statement follows the government’s suspension of the KATH CEO amid public concern over bed shortages and congestion at the country’s second-largest referral hospital.
According to the Minority, assigning blame solely to the hospital’s leadership overlooks systemic problems including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, referral bottlenecks, workforce shortages, and delays in operationalising completed health facilities.
“The persistent ‘No Bed Syndrome’ is not fundamentally a leadership problem at KATH. It is a capacity problem. It is an infrastructure problem. It is a referral system problem,” the statement said.
The caucus pointed to several health facilities that it said were completed or commissioned but remain either underutilised or not fully operational. These include the Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua, the Trade District Hospital, and the Kokoben-Oforikrom District Hospital, all of which were intended to reduce pressure on KATH and improve healthcare delivery in the Ashanti Region.
The Minority noted that despite significant public investment in these facilities, KATH continues to grapple with severe congestion, overstretched staff, and persistent bed shortages.
It also questioned why government had chosen to suspend the KATH CEO instead of prioritising the operationalisation of health facilities designed to ease the burden on the teaching hospital.
Among its demands, the caucus called for the immediate revocation of the suspension pending the outcome of any independent investigation. It further urged government to expedite the completion and operationalisation of stalled hospital projects nationwide, strengthen referral services, and address staffing and infrastructure gaps within the health sector.
The statement also criticised what it described as a growing tendency toward unilateral decision-making in the health sector, urging the Minister for Health to adopt a more consultative approach that promotes engagement with stakeholders.
While expressing support for the position taken by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association in defence of due process, the Minority cautioned against prolonged industrial action, warning that any disruption to services at KATH could endanger patients who rely on the facility for life-saving treatment.
The caucus called on the Health Minister to engage the GMA, KATH doctors, and other stakeholders to resolve the impasse and restore normal services.
“The challenge confronting KATH is only a symptom of broader systemic weaknesses within Ghana’s healthcare system,” the statement said, adding that sustainable solutions would require long-term planning, improved infrastructure, and stronger support for healthcare workers.
The government has yet to publicly respond to the Minority’s latest statement.
Source:www.kumasimail.com
