The Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) was recently in the news following reports of alleged negligence that led to the death of a patient at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Ward and subsequently, the dismissal of the CEO of the facility.

The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, following reports of the patient's death, made an unannounced visit to the hospital on April 22, 2025, as part of a broader effort to assess the challenges of healthcare delivery in the Northern Region.

The visit to TTH, however, turned confrontational, making headlines across major news portals in the country.

President John Dramani Mahama dismissed the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr Adam Atiku, following reports of alleged negligence that led to the patient’s death at the Accident and Emergency Ward.

The dismissal of the CEO was met with resistance by the doctors of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (DATTH) and staff of the Accident and Emergency Department, who threatened to strike over what they described as unfair treatment on April 23, 2025.

They argued that doctors are forced to work under unfavourable conditions, given that several essential medical equipment are reportedly non-functional, leading to a declining standard of healthcare delivery at the facility.

Subsequent reports, however, have indicated that they have rescinded their decision to strike following the intervention of traditional leaders in the region.

These concerns have left many asking the critical question: what should be the standards of a teaching hospital?

Categories of health delivery systems in Ghana

According to a report by bhsghana.com, Ghana’s healthcare system operates under a three-tier delivery structure:

Three-tier delivery system

Primary Health Centres

Primary health centres offer care services as the first point of contact in the healthcare system. They are often termed the "front door" of the National Health System (NHS).

Primary healthcare forms the bedrock of Ghana’s healthcare system, covering community-based health services, health centres, and clinics. These facilities offer basic healthcare services, preventive care, health education, and treatment of common illnesses at the community level.

Primary care services include general practice, community pharmacy, dental, and optometry services.

Secondary (District Hospitals)

Secondary healthcare is delivered by district and regional hospitals. Facilities under this category are equipped to handle more complex medical cases that require specialised attention, diagnostic tools, and some surgical procedures.
Districts are divided into sub-districts, which are further divided into Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) zones — forming an integrated, decentralised health service operated from the district level.

Tertiary levels

Tertiary healthcare facilities offer specialist services and include teaching hospitals.

Tertiary healthcare is provided by teaching hospitals and specialised medical centres located in major cities. These facilities offer highly specialised medical care, advanced diagnostic capabilities, complex surgeries, and specialised medical training.

What are Teaching Hospitals?

Teaching hospitals are affiliated with or attached to medical schools, nursing institutions, and other health education bodies for the purposes of teaching, learning, and research.

They are also expected to possess advanced medical equipment not commonly available at lower-tier hospitals.

Notable Teaching Hospitals in Ghana

• Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH)

• Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

• Cape Coast Teaching Hospital

• Ho Teaching Hospital

• Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Now, the question begging for an answer is this:

Given that crucial equipment needed for delivering seamless healthcare is either non-functional or not readily available at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, what is the government doing about it?

Again, considering the extent of deterioration of essential equipment and the lack of certain critical medical tools, does TTH still qualify as a teaching hospital?

VPO/MA

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