The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, says an agreement has been reached between management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and striking health unions following a stakeholder meeting held at the hospital.

The meeting was convened to address concerns that led to industrial actions by the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), following the suspension of the hospital's Chief Executive Officer and other operational challenges.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dr. Amoakohene said a consensus had been achieved, adding that the unions would communicate the details of the agreement to their members.

He indicated that the outcomes of the discussions would also be forwarded to the Minister for Health for the necessary action.

"We want to assure the general public that these issues will be resolved swiftly to prevent further disruptions to healthcare delivery," he said.

The Regional Minister noted that KATH remains a critical referral facility serving the middle belt of the country and stressed the need to maintain uninterrupted healthcare services.

He also commended the Health Minister, hospital management and the leadership of the health unions for their cooperation during the engagement.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Ashanti Regional Health Director, the Regional Coordinating Director, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, and representatives of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), KADA and GRNMA.

Addressing the long-standing issue of congestion at KATH, Dr. Amoakohene disclosed that progress is being made on a number of healthcare infrastructure projects in the region, including the Afari, Trede and Oforikrom hospitals.

According to him, equipment installation has begun at the facilities, supported by newly secured funding to enable contractors complete the remaining works.

He added that the Regional Health Directorate has commenced staff deployment plans to ensure the facilities become fully operational ahead of their commissioning.

Dr. Amoakohene further revealed that authorities are considering measures to improve patient management and reduce pressure on KATH.

Among the proposals under review is a reverse referral system, which would allow patients who have been stabilised at KATH to continue their recovery at hospitals closer to their communities.

Another proposal involves deploying specialist consultants from KATH to district hospitals to improve access to specialised healthcare services across the region.

He said the proposed measures would undergo further assessment and stakeholder engagement before any final decisions are taken.