Korle-Bu Hospital ‘not a place of no return’- Dr Ampomah

Dr Ampomah speaking to the media

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, has dismissed the notion among people that the hospital is ‘a place of no return.’

According to him, statistics available do not support that claim, making the institution one of the efficient as far as healthcare delivery was concerned.

“Contrary to the belief that people die when they seek healthcare here, 99 per cent of patients admitted return home healthy after receiving treatment,” he said.

Dr Ampomah gave the clarity at the maiden Korle-Bu healthfest and photo exhibition to open up to the public.

According to him, that negative perception about the hospital has affected it, making it difficult for people to seek medical care.  

“People are gripped with fear upon referral to Korle-Bu. They think they have been sentenced to death but the facility admits about 150 to 250 patients daily and most of them are discharged after treatment.”

“People on referrals with various conditions to Korle-Bu stay away for many months or years and by the time they report, it might be too late and reinforces that negative stereotype that when you go to Korle-Bu, you will die.”

“For instance, we hardly record an aesthetic deaths in this hospital. I want to reassure the public that the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is your institution; it is a national asset which belongs to all of us and it is important we all play our roles as stakeholders to make sure Korle-Bu continue to succeed and do well,” he said.

Dr Ampomah said some stories making rounds in the media were not verified and affected people’s confidence in the institution.

He urged the media to promote the interest of the hospital, adding that, “when it comes to healthcare, a person’s confidence in the hospital was very important in the healing process. When people come and are given treatment and they feel nothing good will come out of it, they would not comply with the treatment.”

He said the hospital have started the patient feedback system to take note of the specific concerns that the public has and try to address them.

“We are not saying Korle-Bu is perfect, but we are saying you are part of the process to help us improve,” he added.   

By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu