GHS-DG appeals to hospitals not to turn away patients

Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, has cautioned health facilities in the country against turning away clients, especially pregnant women, because of the indebtedness of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to their facilities.

He said though the delay in claims payment was not a healthy issue, the facilities should continue to treat their clients; pregnant women in particular, with decorum.

Dr Appiah-Denkyira was reacting to claims gathered by the GNA that some public health facilities in the Ada East District in Greater Accra and parts of the Volta Region were turning away NHIA-card bearing clients over the non-payment of claims by NHIA.

He said this at Sogakope during a familiarization tour of CHPs compounds in the South-Tongu District and that he was not aware of such reports.

Dr. Appiah-Denkyira said the facilities could undertake examination of such clients and if there was the need to dispense drugs which they might not stock, they should give the clients prescriptions.

He conceded that the claims issue was a difficult one for service providers, but said, regular discussions were going on over it, and urged all to exercise restraint.

Dr. Appiah-Denkyira visited the Asidovui and Dorkploame CHP compounds, lauding the commitment of communities and the staff.

He said the compounds were important in the management of maternal and infant mortality.

Dr. Appiah-Denkyira said Ghana was far from meeting its maternal and infant MDG goals and asked staff in the service to work hard to improve the records.

Addressing management and staff of the SogakopeDistrict Hospital, he announced plans to build Trauma Centres at Sogakope, Buipe, Nkwanta, Juaso, Techiman and Winneba District hospitals to handle accident cases.

He said ‘Traumatologists’ were already being trained to man the centres.

Dr. Appiah-Denkyira cautioned staff against absenteeism and general indiscipline assuring them that grievances regarding promotion and other issues were being addressed.

The Director-General said there was the possibility of staff in the region taking degree and diploma courses at the University of Health and Allied Sciences by the modular system to improve capacity.

Dr. Joseph Nuertey, the Volta Regional GHS Director, said the Dorkploame CHPs compound would be upgraded to a clinic after residential facilities are put in place in view of the excellent jobs there.

Dr. Ernest Abude, Medical Superintendent of the Sogakope Hospital, said it cost the facility up to GHC3, 000 per week to buy water as water flow to the facility was very bad and also lamented over the NHIA claims payment issue.

Mrs. Helen Sarpong-Akorsah, District Director of Health, corroborated that water in the hospital and said CHPS Compounds were also facing transportation difficulties.