The Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, has expressed concern about the significant loss of skilled personnel at the facility.

According to him, more than 200 nurses and other healthcare professionals exited the hospital in 2023.

Expressing his frustrations, the CEO pointed out the adverse impact of the staff turnover on the hospital's operations.

In discussions with Finance Minister-designate, Mohammed Amin Adam and his delegation during a facility tour, Professor Addai-Mensah appealed to the government for permission to recruit replacements to improve service provision.

“In the past year, we have had over 200 nurses leave Komfo Anokye. Every day, I have had to approve three to five applications for either leave of absence or resignation, mostly nurses, radiographers, and medical laboratory scientists, and so we are praying that we should be allowed to replace these people who are leaving so that we can continue with the care that we are supposed to be giving to our patients.”

Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah also appealed to the government to prioritise the retooling of various departments in response to the acute equipment shortage faced by the hospital.

“One of the major things we are facing is the retooling of the hospital. We are aware of the difficulties that the government has had concerning COVID-19 and others. Still, we believe that it is also possible for some help to be extended [to us] as far as retooling is concerned, especially given the fact that we are serving twelve regions.”