Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, Chief Executive Officer of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), has categorically denied reports claiming that the hospital’s only cancer treatment machine recently malfunctioned, leaving patients stranded.
Addressing these claims, Dr. Ampomah clarified that the hospital has multiple cancer treatment machines, not just one, and only one of them experienced a temporary breakdown.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Channel One TV, Dr. Ampomah described the reports as a “misrepresentation,” emphasizing that KBTH has several machines to serve patients.
He explained that the machine that broke down was the most advanced and user-friendly, but it was repaired within a few days. Dr. Ampomah assured the public that patients’ treatments were not significantly disrupted, countering reports that patients were turned away on Thursday, July 4, 2024, while oncologists worked to repair the equipment.
“That one is also a misrepresentation. We have a number of machines there. It’s like you have a Rolls Royce and a Toyota, you are using both. The Rolls Royce is used when you want to go and flex, so the Toyota is reliable, it always works. So, Toyota has been working, and there’s no issue with the Toyota.
“It’s not like you don’t have a car, so, that is what it was. So, the Rolls Royce broke down, that is the one that is more modern and kind of easier to handle and things like that [the machine]. But then it was fixed within a few days. But the story created the impression that is the only machine, this is the most advanced machine,” he explained.
He acknowledged that the breakdown of the machine typically disrupts the treatment process, but emphasized that it does not necessarily deny patients their scheduled treatments.
He said instead, alternative arrangements are made to ensure continuity of care.
“What it does is that you have longer queues, but it doesn’t mean that patients are denied treatments. Tell me which organisation has not had a machine breakdown before. The radiotherapy machines are two. Because these machines are very expensive, they cost between $5 million to $10 million or probably more.”