The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has recruited 20 anaesthetists to augment its anaesthesia unit.

Head of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Directorate, Professor Akwasi Antwi-Kusi, says the recruitment exercise, approved two weeks ago by hospital management, is to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to the public.

This comes as nurse anaesthetists at KATH join their counterparts in a nationwide industrial action to push for improved working conditions.

Authorities say the Hospital is overstretched as 53 of the hospital’s 85 anaesthetists joined the strike.

But Professor Antwi-Kusi who defended management’s move told JoyNews the doctors who basically have what it takes to practice as anesthesiologists will undergo a two-month on-the-job training.

“We will not be overwhelmed any longer. In fact, we saw this strike coming and started discussions with management.

"Just last two weeks, we opened an application for medical officers to come in, and as we speak today, we are getting 20 medical officers into the department,” Prof Antwi-Kusi revealed.

According to him, training of the medical doctors who are already equipped with the basic knowledge has begun in earnest.

Asked if not authorities would be rushing through with the appointment of the doctors, he said the process to recruit the physicians is in order.

He added that they do not require any complex tutorials once they have basic training.

“The doctors would be trained whilst on the job; they already have the basics as medical doctors. That is the good thing when you have the doctors. They are easy to train. The basics are there; solid.”

Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that the Certified Registered Anaesthesists have called off the strike following a meeting with Employment and Labour Ministry officials.