Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has inaugurated the Osei Tutu II Medical Complex. The medical complex is the newly constructed special ward of the KNUST Hospital. It was inaugurated by the Akyempemhene, Oheneba AduseiPoku, who cut the tape to officially open the edifice.
The KNUST Hospital Special Ward has twenty four (24) private single/double-bed rooms each with airconditioning, refrigeration, satellite television, internet and a nurse call alarm system.The medical complex also houses a pharmacy, a physiotherapy unit, conference and lecture rooms, laundry andCSSDand a presidential suite. Other facilities are labour or delivery rooms, dental and endoscopy units, specialist consulting room, doctors’ rest rooms and medical records and archives unit.
Dr. Yaw Bio, Director of the University Health Services,giving the history of the project, said the need for a place of absolute privacy for rest and healingfor high ranking patients and clientele which the existing wards could not cater for necessitated the constructionof this facility.
The concept of such a medical facility necessitated a feasibility study by a committee to determine the source of funding, land design and construction. The University Council then contracted a loan of one million United States dollars ($1, 000,000) from OIKOCREDIT Ltd through the Amalgamated Bank. The contract was awarded to STIVO Construction Company Limited.The sod to begin construction works was cut on 10th February, 2010 by the Chancellor, OtumfuoOsei Tutu II.
Dr. Bio paid tribute to Prof. Kwasi K. Adarkwa, former Vice Chancellor, Kingsley Adu, Former Finance Officer, Rev. Ben Oppong, Former Director of Works and Mike Osei Wusu of the Finance Office for their contributions to the success of the project.
He also thanked donors such as the North Birmingham PCT, UK for donating all beds in the complex amounting to one hundred thousand pounds (100,000),Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for furnishing the lobby and the pharmacy and Palb Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for providing all the refrigerators in the complex.
Oheneba Adusei Poku, the Akyempemhene, who represented the Chancellor, Otumfuo Osei TutuII, praised the University Hospital for its continuous support in providing quality healthcare to people in the Kumasi metropolis. He commended the health workers in the hospital for not taking part in the recent strike and industrial actions by government health workers.
Oheneba Adusei Poku also commended the KNUST Hospital for its accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as training housemen and residents since 2008. He therefore appealed to the government and relevant authorities to give priority attention to the construction of the University’s own Teaching Hospital.
Professor William OtooEllis, Vice Chancellor, stated that KNUST Hospital is currently rated by the Ghana Health Service as a District Hospital.It serves the people of the Kumasi Metropolis with about 73% of patients coming from outside the University community and thereby increasing the pressure on existing facilities, infrastructure and staff.
Prof. Ellis said several programmes have been initiated by the hospitalto provide efficient services. This includesa Students’ Clinic situated away from the hospital, an Eye Clinic, a bore hole, the acquisition of modern equipment and others. However in view of government’s financial constraints, public hospitals such as the KNUST Hospital have encouraged increased cost recovery from clients who have the ability to pay. This explains the private /special wards that have been constructed. He noted that special wards provide relatively better amenities and services and a higher degree of privacy and comfort and, of course, at a higher cost. General services to the ordinary Ghanaian will not be downgraded. He pledged the hospital’s continuous service to the University community and the general public.
