The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is stepping up security measures following a troubling rise in thefts of critical medical equipment, including copper pipes that supply oxygen to patients.
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Frank Owusu-Sekyere, disclosed that the hospital has been grappling with incidents where individuals cut and steal these pipes, putting patients’ lives at risk and creating a significant financial burden.
“The cost of replacing these stolen pipes is enormous. The one we are currently fixing is costing us about GHS400,000, yet the thief may have sold it for just GHS50,” he lamented during an inspection of rehabilitation works at the facility.
Dr. Owusu-Sekyere revealed that while the hospital has installed CCTV cameras, the lack of real-time monitoring limits their ability to prevent such crimes. To address the growing threat, KBTH is in the advanced stages of hiring private security personnel to support its internal team.
“We are more vigilant now, and with private security coming on board, we believe we will be able to secure the place better,” he stated.
