Mampong hospital still collects utility charges from patients

In spite of a directive from the Controller and Accountant-General's Department, as far back as June 2000, to government hospitals not to collect any money on utilities from patients, the management of the Asante-Mampong Government Hospital still collects money on electricity and water from patients.

This situation was raising eyebrows and causing anxiety among the people of the Sekyere West District, who patronise the hospital. Very reliable sources told the GNA, at Mampong, that the Controller and Accountant-General's directive was to reduce the cost of health services for the people.

The sources said, however, that the hospital's administration to date collect electricity charges ranging between 1,000 cedis and 2,000 cedis from patients. As at the end of March, water charges stood between 600 and 1,200 cedis for in-patients and outpatients, respectively.

Another area of concern to the public, the sources said, was the high prices of drugs and other items supplied to patients. For instance, the hospital is supplied with urine bags from the Regional Medical Stores at 2,000 cedis and it sells to patients at 6,000 cedis, representing 140 per cent in excess of the cost price.

The sources said submitted January 2002 returns for sutures procured at the Medical Stores at 35,000 cedis were sold to patients at 60,000 cedis, representing 71.4 per cent increase. They further revealed that injection hydrazine procured from the Medical Stores were sold at the main hospital at 12,000 cedis but were sold at the maternity at 16,000 cedis.

Another drug, Xylocine sold at the main hospital at 5,000 cedis were sold at the maternity wing at 7,000 cedis, thereby increasing the cost to 45.5 percent. The sources said people have got wind of the Controller and Accountant-General's directive on the payment of the utility bills and were demanding from the hospital administration documents on the unauthorised collection and where the money collected had been paid to.

When contacted on the issues, Dr George Acquaye, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said the he had heard of the matter and would investigate. He said if found to be true, all those involved would be dealt with severely.

Dr Jonathan Addah, the Sekyere West District Director of Health Services also told the GNA when contacted that he had received complaints from people including Mr Solomon Kwabena Sarfo, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong and promised to institute investigations into the allegations.