Health Minister confronts Tamale Teaching Hospital staff over malfunctioning equipment

On Monday, Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh made a surprise visit to the Tamale Teaching Hospital. This visit highlighted ongoing issues with non-functional medical equipment.

The unannounced inspection aimed to assess service delivery and infrastructure. However, tensions rose when the Minister found several critical machines not working. These included ventilators in the emergency unit and diagnostic equipment.

The Minister expressed frustration over the situation. He called it “an unacceptable state of neglect.” He questioned why patients were being sent to private facilities for routine care.

“A life has been lost—that’s why this must be exposed,” he said. He challenged staff on their reluctance to discuss these issues openly.

Hospital staff tried to clarify their position. They stated, “We’re not saying it shouldn’t be exposed.” They emphasized the need for an honest discussion about the problems.

This exchange followed a recent patient death due to a lack of a ventilator. The Minister's inquiry about this incident led to his confrontation with staff members.