Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has defended his decision to suspend the Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, insisting that no public health facility can disregard a policy directive issued by President John Mahama.
Addressing Parliament, Akandoh said the President had made it clear that emergency cases must not be turned away by health facilities under any circumstance.
“The President issued a policy direction in the health sector that no facility should turn away emergency cases,” he said.
According to the Minister, the directive became government policy and was therefore binding on health institutions.
“When the President speaks, it’s a policy that the Minister must implement,” he stated.
Akandoh said concerns arose after KATH announced a suspension of emergency admissions, a move he argued contradicted the President’s instructions.
“A press statement was issued to the public indicating that the accident and emergency unit was closed and no more patients could come there,” he said.
He revealed that he subsequently invited Dr. Baidoo for discussions and questioned him about the decision.
“I invited the CEO and inquired whether what he had done was not contrary to the position of the President,” Akandoh stated.
The Minister said the CEO acknowledged the concerns raised.
“The man admitted and apologised before me and other officers,” he told Parliament.
