The Chairman of the Komfo Anokye Doctors’ Association, Dr. Michael Leat, has called on the government to urgently operationalise the Afari Military Hospital and the Sewua Government Hospital to help reduce congestion and persistent bed shortages at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
According to Dr. Leat, the two completed health facilities possess a combined capacity of approximately 600 beds and could significantly ease the burden on KATH if adequately resourced and opened to the public.
Speaking in an interview, Dr. Leat said the Afari Military Hospital has a capacity of 100 beds while the Sewua Government Hospital can accommodate up to 500 patients.
He noted that both facilities have already been constructed and require only operationalisation and the necessary equipment and personnel to begin delivering healthcare services.
His appeal comes amid growing concerns over overcrowding at KATH’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre, a situation that recently sparked public debate and prompted a query involving the hospital’s management.
Dr. Leat described the congestion at KATH as a symptom of broader challenges confronting Ghana’s healthcare system, including inadequate infrastructure, resource constraints, and the increasing referral burden placed on the hospital.
"KATH serves as the major tertiary referral centre for the Ashanti Region and beyond, and the pressure on our facilities and staff continues to grow," he said.
He stressed that rather than assigning blame for the current challenges, stakeholders should focus on addressing the systemic issues contributing to overcrowding and delays in patient care.
"Yes, there’s overcrowding. What we’re saying is that the Health Ministry should help to take away some of the burden from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. There should be collaboration between Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the Health Ministry and other health facilities," Dr. Leat stated.
He further emphasized that several healthcare facilities within the region remain underutilized despite the growing demand for medical services.
"We have hospitals that have been built; all we need is to operationalise them and retool the various hospitals around KATH," he said.
Dr. Leat warned that the continued delay in activating the facilities places excessive strain on healthcare workers and risks compromising the quality of care available to patients.
"All these things are not done, and the burden is on KATH. If we try to help so that patients are saved, and staff are overwhelmed, and we are queried, then we need to look at the health system very well," he added.
He maintained that operationalising the Afari Military Hospital and Sewua Government Hospital would provide a practical and immediate solution to the congestion challenges confronting KATH.
"The two hospitals, Afari Military Hospital and Sewua Hospital, should be operationalised. One is a 100-bed capacity, and one is a 500-bed capacity. If we can be able to operationalise these hospitals, I don’t think we will be in this situation," he stated.
Dr. Leat concluded by urging the government and health authorities to invest in expanding access to healthcare services through the activation of dormant facilities, arguing that such a move would improve patient outcomes, strengthen the healthcare system, and reduce the workload on health professionals at KATH.