Referral to bigger hospitals doesn't mean imminent death - DCE.

Adum-Banso (W/R) March 23, GNA - Mr Edward Tawiah-Amprofi, the acting Mpohor Wassa East District Chief Executive, has said referral of patients from community clinics to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital should not be misconstrued as sign of imminent death. He said many sick people, out of suspicion and fear of death when referred to such big hospitals, resign to their fate and stay at home to adopt self-medication.

Mr Tawiah-Amprofi said this at the inauguration of a 512.21 million cedis' community clinic and nurses' quarters at Adum-Banso on Tuesday. He said acute shortage of health personnel at community clinic at Nsagweso, Domama and Ayiem has affected efficiency at the clinics. Mad Sophia Horner-Sam, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the district had registered 17,568 people out of which 245 had paid premiums amounting to 20 million cedis as at the end of 2004.

She said all health facilities in the district would be rehabilitated and given the requisite accreditation.

Madam Horner-Sam appealed to managers of the scheme to ensure that many people are registered to benefit from it when it starts operation. Dr Kwaku Anim-Karikari, the District Director of Health Services, said the payment for prescribed drugs had discouraged many people from seeking medical attention at community clinics.