By: Rachel Kakraba
Rector of Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Prof. Richard Adanu, has asked government to improve health care delivery to Ghanaians by establishing two more ultra-modern Teaching hospitals. This, he said, will augment services delivered by Korle-Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching hospitals.
“We need two hospitals, better than Korle-Bu and Komfo Anokye or at least of that capacity in each region of the country”
Prof. Adanu, was speaking at a public lecture to mark the 20th anniversary of the College, in Accra. He advocated for a befitting facelift of the Korle-Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals to complement its status.
“When you work at a place like Korle Bu, you go in everyday, you get immune to the surroundings it’s like a great hospital. We know it is a great hospital the best brains are there. When you’ve been away for a long time and then you drive in, and you see the buildings then you’ll realize what the person who doesn’t know that the great brains are in there feels”
“When you come in not being somebody who’s been in all the time and you see the buildings there, you’re like is my life going to be safe over here? But it is going to be safe” He added.
Prof. Adanu, asked government to demonstrate more political will to issues of health, by improving infrastructure, such as roads nationwide to encourage trainers to accept postings to other areas.
“Each region of this country needs to have good infrastructure, roads, schools, recreational facilities and all the things that will not make people feel disadvantaged compared to living in Accra and Kumasi. This kind of infrastructure support will make our trainers take up postings in these regions and provide the needed training for our doctors to become senior specialists and specialists”
Prof. Adanu, recommended awarding of contract to trainers in regional hospitals. This he said, is critical to improving health care delivery to Ghanaians.
“Provide contract consultant positions in the regional hospitals for our senior specialists who have reached statutory retiring age. There is work to do and some of us are getting close to 60 years and you can tell we feel strong than we were before. Some are beyond 60 and feel equally sharper than they were at that time, so let’s give these people post-retirement contract. The presence of these consultants in these hospitals will improve healthcare delivery over a wide geographic zone. You see sometimes all you need is somebody of a certain level of knowledge being there.”
He said taking steps will help young doctors learn from their experience.
Recounting his experience as a young consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prof. Adanu said it took the intervention of one experienced consultant for him to take the right decision.