Following the breakdown of the autoclave machine at the Central Sterilisation Services Department at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, doctors are compelled to use a chemical called parasafe to disinfect equipment before surgery.

“It is highly unprofessional but we dip the equipment in parasafe with the hope that the all the bacteria on the equipment will die because if we don’t operate on that patient, the patient might lose his or her life,” a doctor who pleaded anonymity told Joy News’ Kwetey Nartey.

Joy News sources say the alarming situation has forced some departments to cancel surgeries so as not to place the lives of patients at risk of infection.

The autoclave machine has been broken down for the past two weeks.

Officials of the Sterilisation Centre resorted to transporting all necessary equipment to 37 Military and Police Hospitals to disinfect their equipment after the breakdown.

But not all equipment are transported because some are bulky to move around.

Joy News checks reveal that a replacement of the broken down autoclave will cost about $20,000 but it unclear how much it will cost to repair the machine.

Meanwhile, officials at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have declined comments.