The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) treats all patients regardless of their ability to pay, with saving lives remaining its foremost priority, Chief Executive Officer Dr. (Med.) Paa Kwesi Baidoo has said.

According to Dr Baidoo, KATH does not demand upfront payment before treatment, a policy that has made the hospital a last resort for some patients referred from other facilities after their funds have been exhausted.

“KATH provides treatment first and does not demand payment upfront. If patients cannot pay their medical bills, we have a process to get public funds to cover the cost before they are discharged,” he explained. “Some hospitals even refer patients here when they run out of funds.”

Dr Baidoo made the remarks while receiving a GH₵200,000 donation from Bawa Rock Limited to support underprivileged patients whose medical bills remain unpaid after treatment.

The KATH CEO used the occasion to address public concerns and allegations that the hospital detains patients who are unable to pay their bills. He insisted that this was not the case, explaining that patients are only kept temporarily while administrative and social assessments are completed.

“We do not detain patients,” he stressed. “When patients are due for discharge, they are given their bills. If they cannot afford them, a public fund steps in to cover the cost, but we must properly document everything.”

Dr Baidoo noted that because public funds are involved, the hospital is required by law to account for every cedi spent, including appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee when necessary.

“This is about transparency and accountability. You cannot just discharge a patient without documentation when public funds are used. That is why patients may remain on the ward briefly while social assessments are conducted,” he said.

He added that the hospital’s social welfare team verifies claims of financial hardship to ensure support goes to patients who genuinely need it.

The donation from Bawa Rock Limited, according to Dr. Baidoo, will help clear outstanding medical bills and ease the financial burden on both patients and the hospital.

He expressed gratitude to the company and commended its commitment to corporate social responsibility, urging other corporate bodies to support healthcare delivery.

The GH₵200,000 donation was made on behalf of Bawa Rock Limited’s CEO, Alhaji Rashid, and presented by the company’s Sustainability Officer, Eric Addae, with the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi, in attendance.

The Kumasi Mayor praised Bawa Rock Limited for the gesture, noting the company’s contribution to the local economy and its positive impact on healthcare delivery in the Greater Kumasi area.

Mr Addae said the donation forms part of the company’s ongoing efforts to give back to communities where it operates, with healthcare identified as a key priority.

“We are committed to supporting initiatives that improve lives, and we hope this contribution will inspire others to also lend support,” he said.