GHC5 million needed to fix KATH oxygen plant – CEO

The oxygen plant at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) that produces oxygen for distribution to the Accident and Emergency Centre has broken down, Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso, Chief Executive Officer of KATH, has said.

According to him, the hospital will need GHS5 million to buy a new plant.

He disclosed this when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health met with heads of department of the hospital as part of the committee’s three-day monitoring tour on health facilities in the Ashanti Region.

The hospital, according to the CEO, relies on external sources to treat patients who are in need of oxygen, adding that, the private providers who supply also sell it at a high price, and for that reason, majority of the hospital’s revenues are being spent on purchasing of oxygen.

He said, “This has negatively affected the hospital’s finances. The government should consider buying two or three oxygen plants to help the hospital to get a backup in case one break down.”

He also said the equipment at the Accident and Emergency Centre which was built in the year 2009 needs to be changed and retooled, but since the government owes the company that installed the equipment, it has still not been changed.

Dr Owusu-Danso bemoaned the inadequate space in the hospital to admit more patients.

He, therefore, called on government to come to the aide of the hospital to help them give quality healthcare to its patients.

The Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Hon Joseph Yieleh Chireh, said the finance minister should be alerted to find money to rectify the problem confronting the hospital since it is an emergency situation which needs immediate attention.

He noted that, all the hospital equipment should, on a regular basis, be properly replaced or maintained.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Hon Kwabena Twum Nuamah, described the problem as worrying since it has been the only referral centre for the northern part of the country.

He said a report will be sent to parliament for an action to be taken on the problem confronting the hospital.