Management of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital reaffirms commitment to patient safety

Dr Leslie Issah Adam-Zakaria, the Medical Director of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH), has emphasized the hospital's unwavering dedication to patient safety during the World Patient Safety Day on 23rd September, 2026. The day should prompt healthcare institutions to consider their vital responsibility in ensuring patients are safeguarded from preventable harm during treatment, according to Dr Adam-Zakaria.

Patient safety is a fundamental aspect of quality healthcare, he stressed, as uncompromised safety cannot be equated with quality care. Notably, the 2026 theme, "Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases," resonates deeply with GARH, given the surge in chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cancers, stroke, kidney disease, and mental health issues.

In response to the theme, Dr Adam-Zakaria outlined numerous steps implemented at GARH to bolster patient safety and care quality. These include the enhancement of diagnostic systems through elevated laboratory quality processes, the introduction of ISO-certified laboratory services, the procurement of advanced echocardiography and endoscopy equipment, and the commitment to timely diagnostic result reporting. Efforts are also underway to restore imaging services, aiming to curtail diagnostic errors and delays.

Addressing the surging legal cases plaguing the Ghana Health Service, Barbera Serwaa Asamoah, the Acting Chairperson of the Ghana Health Service Council, expressed concern and affirmed the council's resolve to train more personnel to mitigate legal disputes. She urged staff across all Ghanaian hospitals to prioritize patient safety.

Dr. Elorm Hillary Otchi, a Health Systems Expert, echoed this sentiment, asserting that patient safety is not related to personal perfection but rather to dependable systems that protect patients during various stages of care, including periods of exhaustion or pressure.