The executives of the various professional associations at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have commended the Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, for his innovative and consultative approach to the management of the hospital.
The executives noted that his effectiveness in mobilising private sector resources to improve hospital facilities, enforcement of discipline, the institution of the Directors weekend and holidays duty rosters and the adoption of patient-friendly policies were helping to reposition the hospital as the leading centre of excellence in tertiary healthcare.
The executives, who were speaking at separate meetings held with hospital management during the CEO’s second quarterly engagements with key stakeholders, were unanimous that things have changed for the better during the short period that the CEO had been in office.
The quarterly engagements were instituted by the new CEO after his appointment in December 2022. The objective of the engagements is to provide a dedicated platform for regular interaction between hospital management and key stakeholders, to among other things, seek feedback, account for management’s stewardship and generate ideas for improving the operations of the hospital.
The union executives who met management during the second quarter engagement included those of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA), Komfo Anokye Pharmacists Association (KAPA) and the Health Services Workers Union (HSWU). The rest were from the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists(GAMLS), KATH Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists(KACRA), KATH Administrators Welfare Association (KATHAWA) and Health Accounting Staff Association of Ghana(HASAG).
The executives said they were particularly impressed with the constant presence of the CEO and his Directors at the various operational areas of the hospital even during holidays and weekends following the institution of the Directors weekend and holidays duty roster, something which was unheard of in the history of the hospital.
This singular act, they noted, has helped to improve punctuality and attendance among staff, enhanced prompt detection and resolutions of operational challenges and deepen the bond between management and staff.
The executives were also happy with the rapidity speed with which staff promotions were now being handled and the CEO’s use of his contacts in getting support to execute a number of facelifts projects at the hospital including the painting of the Doctors Flats and the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) building among others.
They, however, called for improved medical care package for their members as the existing one was inadequate in the face of recent increase in the cost of healthcare. The issue of the high attrition rate among nurses and its adverse impact on patient care was also raised by the GRNMA.
The executives of KADA in particular drew management’s attention to the need to affect the payment of the 13th month salary owed its members as agreed with the hospital last year.
Speaking to the executives at a separate meeting, Prof. Addai-Mensah stated that his decision to formally engage all stakeholders at the hospital every three months was meant to improve executive accountability, encourage feedback and engender greater involvement of key stakeholders in the governance of the hospital. He urged the executives to help management maintain discipline at the hospital by educating their members to commit to the ethical standards of their professions and adherence to the disciplinary code of the hospital.
“Indiscipline, either in the form of extortion or absenteeism, will never be tolerated under my watch and staff, irrespective of rank or profession will not be spared if found to have breached the disciplinary code of the hospital”, he intoned.
Prof. Addai-Mensah said the hospital was beset with a lot of challenges but he was committed to using the hospital’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and assistance from the private sector to address them as soon as possible.
He said management has been able to clear the bulk of the 13th month salary of owed members of the HSWU and pledged to tackle the ones owed the doctors group.
He expressed gratitude to Neuce Paints Manufacturing Company Limited and Alex Nuamah Enterprise partnering his administration to give the Doctors Flats and ENT block the much-needed facelift.
The second phase of the second quarter engagements was expected to cover the management teams of all the 15 directorates at the hospital.
