Minister condemns extortion of monies from patients

The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, has expressed dismay over illegal extortion of monies from patients with National Health Insurance cards by some health workers in the Region.

He therefore entreated authorities at the Health Service to halt those involved in such nefarious activities to bring sanity in the Service.

Mr. Aidoo made these remarks in a speech read on his behalf at the Annual Performance Review meeting of the Health Service held in Takoradi in the Western Region.

The theme for the event was: “Strengthening District and Sub-district Health Management System for Efficient Health Service Delivery.”

He said “Such negative development in the Health Service has attracted uncomplimentary commentaries in the media in recent times saying it's a source of worry to the Regional Coordinating Council.”

Mr. Aidoo said it’s high time the Service did a peer review of itself to stop the few bad nuts whose nefarious activities continue to give a bad name to the Health Service.”

The Regional Minister indicated that the government would continue to support the health sector, especially in the area of better staff remuneration, rehabilitation of existing health facilities, completion of stalled projects, construction of new ones as well as provision of essential materials such as vehicles and medical equipment to facilitate quality health service delivery.

He said the government had started various processes for the construction of a new regional hospital, three district hospitals and five polyclinics in the Region.

The acting Western Region Director of Health Service, Dr. Kwaku Anin Karikari, assured the government of its commitment to provide quality health service delivery to the citizenry.

He appealed to the government to honour its pledges to ensure that the health personnel get the necessary equipment to deliver.