Health ministry refers Winneba Trauma Hospital staff who abandoned patient in bush to CID, AG's department

The Ministry of Health has referred a case involving medical misconduct at the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba in the Central Region to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Attorney General’s Department.

This follows an investigation by the Ghana Health Service which found misconduct by some hospital officials in relation to the death of a patient who was transferred to Ojobi, where she was abandoned until her demise.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, stated that investigation revealed that the employees involved failed to act appropriately, a situation which contributed to the tragic outcome.

"The Honourable Minister of Health Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has directed that the conduct of certain officials of the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba be reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Attorney General's Department. This follows investigations by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), which concluded that the employees identified as having contributed to the planning, and evacuation of the patient from the hospital to Ojobi, where she was abandoned until her death, did not act appropriately," it stated.

It also requested the Attorney-General’s assistance in determining the culpability of the staff and pursuing any further legal action.

"The committee also recommended that the said staff be sanctioned by the Ghana Health Service through Internal Disciplinary Procedures. However, the Ministry is of the view that in light of the gravity of the issue captured in the report, involving the loss of life, further investigations should be carried out by the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

"Consequently, the Minister of Health has requested the assistance of the AG to initiate an investigation into the case to determine the culpability or otherwise of the affected staff and take any further action deemed appropriate," it added.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the highest standards of healthcare delivery to help prevent the recurrence of such tragic incidents in the future.

In June 2024, an old woman reportedly died after about a week of being abandoned near a bush on the outskirts of Gomoa Ojobi, in the Central Region.

Photos and videos shared from where she was abandoned showed her with P.O.P. on both legs, lying down with a wheelchair by her side.

Read the statement below

JKB/ ADG

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