Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital suspends surgical cases over water crisis

Surgical doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi have suspended all surgical cases due to a severe water shortage at the facility.

According to hospital authorities, the water supply challenge has persisted since last week, making surgical operations unsafe and significantly affecting the provision of essential healthcare services.

To communicate the directive, the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association issued a memo on March 25, instructing management to adhere to the suspension in the best interest of patient safety and security.

The memo emphasized that water is a critical resource for maintaining hygiene, conducting surgical procedures, and ensuring overall patient care. However, the current shortage has compromised these essential functions, leading to the difficult decision to halt surgical cases temporarily.

“This memo is to formally inform management of the decision taken by the Orthopaedic and Emergency Directorate to temporarily halt the admission of new patients until water supply is restored,” the memo read.

The memo also noted that despite ongoing efforts to manage the situation, the current water crisis has reached a critical point, severely impacting patient safety and healthcare delivery.

Dr. Michael Leat, Chairman of the Association assured of their commitment to attending to existing cases while apologizing on behalf of his colleagues for the inconvenience caused by the suspension.

The association further urged hospital management to explore alternative water supply options and provide regular updates on the situation.

-citinewsroom