KATH vows greater efficiency in resource management

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has sent signals that it was determined to reduce waste to achieve greater efficiency in resource management.

This comes in the wake of the expected rise in its operating cost due to the government’s decision not to any longer pay the utility bills of the Hospital beginning 2015.

Dr. Joseph Akpaloo, the Chief Executive, said its mode of operations was being reviewed to better deal with the new challenges and responsibilities.

He said the Hospital needed to devise efficient ways of doing things to generate more funds to cover the additional operational expenses.

Dr Akpaloo was speaking at the annual thanksgiving service organized by the Hospital in Kumasi.

He said it was not going to be easy and that payment of its own utility bills combined with the rising cost of medical consumables, equipment and stagnating tariff regime, would exert tremendous pressure on its finances.

“This calls for training, orientation and commitment on the part of management and staff to operate with the efficiency of private sector operators but with compassion of a public sector health facility in order to achieve a balance,” Dr Akpaloo said.

He said they would not only have to be disciplined and customer-centred but also accept to do the very simple things like turning off taps, air conditioners and lights when not in use.

Dr. Akpaloo said his administration was putting priority on staff discipline and good work ethics as it did everything to get state support for completion of the 38 year-old maternity and children’s block project.

He said they would also replace obsolete lifts at the old “Gee” blocks and the aged oxygen plant.

He told the workers to ensure unity of purpose and to be prepared to make sacrifices to help the hospital deliver to the expectation of its clients.