Korle-Bu Hospital Chief Executive Resigns

The Chief Executive of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Henry Holdbrook-Smith on Monday resigned from his post for personal reasons. Dr Holdbrook-Smith, who was appointed on November 4, 1997, would, however, continue to serve the hospital as orthopaedic surgeon consultant.

Dr Holdbrook-Smith is currently on his accumulated leave and would officially hand over in July. Dr Ben Annan, Director of Medical Affairs of the hospital would be acting in his absence until a substantive chief executive is appointed.

The Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie has accepted the resignation, which was dated January 25, 2002 and expressed President John Agyekum Kufuor's appreciation for his loyalty, dedication and sense of duty exhibited during his tenure of office.

Dr Holdbrook-Smith was the first alumnus of the University of Ghana to be appointed Chief Executive to the nation's premier hospital. During his tenure of office, Dr Holdbrook-Smith saw to a number of development projects from the Internally Generated Funds (IGF), which included the re-introduction of the "adoption drive" of various wards of the hospital by companies, the 24-hour departmental pharmacy services and the computerisation of the hospital administration.

Others were the establishment of drug manufacturing unit, sponsoring of post-graduate students of the University of Ghana Medical School, an ultra-modern laboratory that is near completion and the purchase of SSNIT flats for staff at Adenta and Dansoman.

It was during his tenure of office that the government also initiated and completed the surgical and medical emergency units, surgical theatre complex, and rehabilitation of the accident centre, dialysis unit, offices for surgeons and anaesthetics and the provision of new telecommunication equipment.