Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Cracks Down on Staff Diverting Patients to Private Facilities

Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has taken a strong stance against what it describes as a growing trend of staff diverting patients and hospital services to private facilities.

According to a leaked memorandum issued by the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer on August 25, 2025, the practice is a “serious irregularity” that undermines KBTH’s operations and causes significant financial losses.

The memo detailed several concerning activities, including:

Prescribing outside purchases: Some staff prescribe services and medications available at KBTH but direct patients to private facilities to purchase them.

Diverting laboratory services: Staff have allegedly engaged private facilities to collect blood samples for tests that could be conducted within the hospital.

Unauthorized use of resources: Certain staff are reported to be performing surgeries with hospital facilities but collecting payments privately—sometimes without issuing receipts at all.

Management warned that, effective immediately, any staff member found engaging in these activities would face disciplinary action in line with hospital policies.

The memo also reminded staff of their duty to protect the integrity and financial sustainability of Ghana’s premier teaching hospital.