By: Fred Yaw SARPONG
fsarpong@theeventpr.com
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says some staffs of health facilities in the country are charging patients and pregnant women illegally fees which do not come with receipts.
Illegal charges at some of the health facilities have been in the media quite recently. The Daily Express has reported on similar incident which took place at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, formerly known as the Ridge Hospital.
A statement from the Ghana Health Service, which was signed by the Director General of the GHS, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare indicated that there has been non-issuance of receipts covering payments of hospital fees and illegal charges by some health facilities within the Ghana Health Service.
The memo which has been intercepted by the Daily Express was issued on 30th October, 2017 and sent to all Regional Director of the GHS, all medical directors of the various health facilities in the country and copied to the Minister of Health, and the Chairman, GHS Council.
According to the Director General of GHS, the attention of the Service has been drawn to the fact that there are misconducts in some of the health facilities.
“The Ghana Health Service will not countenance such malpractices that tend to dent the corporate image of the Service,” the statement read.
It further said heads of facilities in the respective regions are entreated to strengthen supervision to stem such untoward conduct.
“Any staff who indulges himself or herself in these illegal practices would be made to face the full rigors of the law,” Dr. Nsiah-Asare cautioned.
For instance, at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, three midwives have been identified who sell drugs and charges extra amount from the clients especially the pregnant women.
This illegality goes on labor ward, triage, both the main postnatal and annex, female ward, medical ward, surgical, theatre, anaesthesia and almost all the departments at the hospital.
At Ridge Hospital, checking blood level (Haemoglobin) for mothers is GHc10.00. However, some of the midwives charges between GHc15.00 and GHc20.00. The hospital bill the clients on billing sheets provided by the facility so that nobody takes money from them. But these midwives still go aged to bill them.
For instance, at episiotomy, that is when a woman gets a tear during delivery and is sutured, the hospital supposed to bill the client. But these midwives
Speaking to the Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Health Service, Madam Rebecca Ackwonu confirmed the letter, but indicated that it was not meant for the workers at the various health facilities.
Even though she did not comment further, the Daily Express observed that the issue is tarnishing the image of the service.
Dr. Emmanuel Srofenyoh, the Medical Director at the Ridge Hospital recently told the Daily Express that Nurses are obliged to collect money from the clients and buy some needed items for them especially if relatives are not available. “From the distance one may not be sure of what transpired. Close investigation is needed to unruffled the issues of illegal fee charges. This is not to hold brief or defend the situation.”
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