The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has justified the suspension of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) CEO, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, saying the move was required after the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit was shut without proper clearance.
Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, June 16, the Health Minister said the suspension followed what he called a direct breach of instructions from President John Dramani Mahama on handling emergency cases at health facilities nationwide.
Mr. Akandoh argued that the executive arm of government can apply disciplinary steps when needed, especially on issues tied to government policy execution and the running of state institutions.
“I do not remember anytime that when the executive is executing punitive actions, it needed the permission of Parliament to do so. On this floor of Parliament, the President issued a policy direction in the health sector that no health facility should turn away emergency cases and he added that even if the life of the person must be saved on the ground, we should do so and when the President speaks, it must be implemented.
“Let me put on record that absolutely nobody has the right to close any portion of a health facility without the consent of the Health Minister. After the President’s directive, there was a press statement which indicated that the accident and emergency unit of KATH is closed and no more patients can come there.”
