Blame gov't for 'unfortunate' loss of lives – Dr. Ankobea

The Ashanti Regional Head of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr. Frank Ankobea seems to be worried about the rising death of patients due to the doctors' nationwide strike.

In the last two weeks, about 500 people have died nationwide since public sector doctors declared a strike on July 30, 2015, to demand better conditions of service, according to data compiled by the Health Insurance Service Providers Association of Ghana (HISPAG).

Also, a report by The Finder Newspaper said many of the dead could have been saved as they died while being transported from one hospital to the other – “There could be many deaths unreported, especially in rural communities where this report could not cover.”

Speaking on Asempa FM, Dr. Ankobea described the high death rate as “unfortunate” but blamed government for the loss of lives.

According to him, striking doctors, “are ever ready to return to work if government agrees to their conditions of service.”

He claimed, “government has deceived us [doctors] before…we won’t let that happen again.”