Kumasi, Sept 28, GNA - Authorities of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), have estimated that the Hospital would need about 18 billion cedis for rehabilitation works to facilitate a bid to bring its operations to standard.

The authorities were convinced that the amount, when realised, would boost healthcare delivery and the comprehensive facelift of the Hospital, some structures of which had in the last 50 years not seen any rehabilitation.

Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Chief Executive Officer of KATH, made this known when Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, embarked on an inspection of the Hospital to acquaint himself with the progress of work on on-going development projects in Kumasi on Wednesday. The Asantehene's visit formed part of his tour of the metropolis to inspect the extent of work on development projects being funded by the government.

Dr Nsiah-Asare pointed out that inadequate funds to carry out development projects were militating against efforts to catapult the hospital to the status of a Centre of Excellence by 2008. He said the hospital's endowment fund, which was set up last year to coincide with the commemoration of Ghana's 50th anniversary, had so far yielded one billion cedis.

The KATH CEO further indicated that plans were far advanced to computerise the various units at the Hospital to enable the authorities to network and also ensure effective co-ordination of activities. He called for the relocation of the military barracks, which was currently sited on part of the Hospital's land. Dr Nsiah-Asare noted that the relocation of the barracks would allow for enough space to carry out development projects, which were in the pipeline.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu commended authorities of the KATH for their dedicated services and decision to name the Hospital's proposed Eye Centre after him.He expressed the hope that the Centre when completed, would improve the treatment of eye-related diseases.