By Celestine Avi
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has expressed deep concern over the continuous loss of critical care staff, warning that the facility is losing an average of 50 intensive care unit (ICU) nurses each month.
Neurosurgeon and Deputy Medical Director, Dr. Harry Akoto, described the situation as alarming, stressing that such high attrition rates pose a serious threat to the hospital’s ability to deliver quality emergency and critical care services. He noted that the departure of skilled nurses not only undermines patient safety, but also places additional strain on the few professionals who remain.
Dr. Akoto called for urgent interventions to improve the retention of healthcare personnel, particularly those with specialized training, arguing that the sustainability of critical care services depends largely on maintaining a motivated and well-supported workforce.
Responding to the concern, the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Madam Obuobia Darko Opoku, assured that workforce challenges such as these would be prioritized in the ongoing needs assessment under the Mahama Cares initiative. She explained that beyond equipping health facilities to manage the surge in non-communicable diseases, the Fund is committed to supporting strategies that strengthen the health workforce and ensure the long-term resilience of the healthcare system.
Health stakeholders are now urging the government, professional associations, and partners to collaborate on lasting retention policies, warning that failure to act swiftly could further weaken Ghana’s capacity to deliver life-saving care in its leading referral hospital.
