The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has indicated that it is still offering health care services to outpatients who report at the facility.
According to a press statement signed by the Public Relations officer of the hospital, Mr Mustapha Salifu, even though the house officers who were posted to the hospital had completed their service and left, the facility was still providing health care to both outpatients and inpatients.
He also explained that the delay in the posting of fresh house officers to the hospital had nothing to do with a freeze on public sector hiring as was purported in sections.
Mr Salifu therefore assured patients and the public that it had not suspended its outpatient services and that people who needed medical care could report at the hospital.
Two-week gap
The Medical and Dental Council had given the KBTH a two-week gap to replace the outgone house officers with fresh officers to help with inpatient care, preparation of patients for surgery, among other responsibilities.
In the past, the hospital employed directly when house officers completed their service. However, that power to employ house officers now lies in the hands of the Medical and Dental Council.
Background
Reports in the media during the week indicated that since Monday, May 4, this month, the KBTH had been turning away patients who called at its Outpatients Department (OPD) as a result of the completion of housemanship of 150 house officers who provided essential services at the OPD.
It said as of Wednesday, May 6, the OPD attended to only specialised cases that included emergency outpatient cases and the preparation of patients for the theatre.
The reports also said that the 150 house officers who provided essential services at the OPD left the hospital after completing their housemanship leading to the short-term staffing gap.
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