Kade, July 14, GNA-The District Director of Health Services for the Kwaebibirem District, Dr. Patrick Amo Mensah has made an appeal for the upgrading of the Kade Health Centre to a hospital. This, according to Dr. Amo Mensah would go a long way to enhance healthcare delivery in the district.
The District Director made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Kade on problems confronting the district health administration since the introduction and implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Dr. Amo Mensah said even though there has been an increase in the number of cases at health facilities, staffing position has not been the best with the same old infrastructure existing.
In 2004 for example, he said, the number of cases at the Outpatients Department (OPD) at St. Dominic's Hospital at Akwatia increased from 48,848 to 50,144 in 2005 shooting up to 85,091 in 2006. In the case of the Kade Health Centre, it was 22,977, 30,030 and 40,346 respectively for the same period. Asuom Health Centre on the other hand recorded 9,134, 12,114 and 16,150 for the period under discussion.
Dr. Amo Mensah said even though the daily workload for Medical Assistants was supposed to be 40 cases, more than 100 patients were being attended to by each of them.
He said, at the Kade Health Centre there were only two Medical Assistants attending to the large number of patients daily and he has had to combine his schedule as an administrator with that of a medical practioner.
Admitting that the NHIS is a good concept, Dr Amo Mensah, however appealed for public support and understanding in view of the pressure on health care providers.
He appealed to clients not to report at only one particular facility but make use of those nearer them in order not to bring pressure to bear on certain health facilities. Dr. Amo Mensah said if reports that some clients covered under the NHIS at times reported and got treatment on behalf of sick relations or friends not covered, then the practice should stop since it could have very serious health repercussions. 14 July 07
