Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, Chief Executive Officer of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), has refuted recent reports suggesting that the hospital’s sole treatment machine malfunctioned, leaving patients without care. In a statement addressing the controversy, Dr. Ampomah clarified that KBTH operates multiple cancer treatment machines, and only one experienced a temporary malfunction.
He described the reports as a “misrepresentation” and stressed “that the hospital’s facilities were not significantly disrupted. In an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Channel One TV, Dr Ampomah compared the situation to having both a Rolls Royce and a Toyota, noting that while the advanced machine (the Rolls Royce) had a breakdown, the other machines (the Toyota) continued to function reliably. He explained that the malfunctioning machine was promptly repaired within a few days, and alternative arrangements were made to ensure patient care continued without interruption.
Dr Ampomah acknowledged that while the breakdown led to longer waiting times, it did not result in patients being denied treatment. He emphasized that such breakdowns are not uncommon in healthcare settings, particularly given the high cost of radiotherapy machines ranging from $5 million to $10 million or more. “The breakdown of the machine can cause delays and longer queues, but it doesn’t mean patients won’t be denied treatment, “ Dr Ampomah rated.
The story gave the impression that this was ou.