Committee set up to investigate alleged Ridge Hospital assault case
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has set up a committee to investigate the assault case that occurred at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, also known as Ridge Hospital.
The committee has been given one week to come out with recommendations for implementation.
The Minister of Health disclosed this at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday.
He also announced a 24-hour complaint system in all public hospitals for response to issues from the public.
He advised patients and their families to lodge complaints rather than resorting to violence, and mentioned the availability of complaint numbers and suggestion boxes in all health facilities, urging patients to use such channels for feedback.
The press briefing was triggered by issues around the aftermath of the encounter between the hospital frontline staff and an accident victim, with Mr Akandoh accused by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association of condoning the behaviour of the gentleman accused of assaulting a nurse on duty by shaking hands with him.
The minister clarified that his handshake with the accident victim would not stop investigations into the matter.
Facts of the incident
Mr Akandoh explained that he first sent a delegation to the hospital to ascertain what happened when the incident first came to his attention.
He said he followed up with the hospital, and upon arrival, he had a closed-door meeting with the management of the hospital where they discussed security and staffing issues.
He indicated that coming out of the meeting, he was introduced to Ralph, the accident victim at the centre of the controversy.
“Then I asked: ‘Why did you do this, gentleman?’ The gentleman then stretched his hand, shaking me and trying to whisper something into my ear. Ladies and gentlemen, at this point, should I push the guy that don't whisper anything into my ears?”
“Should I stop him? Should I shout at him, even if that guy has been prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment, and he stretches his hand to shake me as a minister, as a public officer, I have the duty to stretch and greet him. So, let us not reduce the fact that I shook hands with him,” he said.
Mr Akandoh condemned attacks on healthcare workers and said their safety was a priority to the ministry and the government.
He, however, appealed to health professionals to improve their communication with patients.
Improve health sector
The minister, however, expressed disappointment in the utterances of some union leaders of the nurses and midwives who had attacked his person as a result of the incident.
He stated that the government was focused on prioritising improving the health sector and retooling health facilities while improving the welfare of healthcare professionals.
Mr Akandoh said the ministry had made efforts to improve the admission rate at hospitals, fighting outbreaks and the role of the national rapid response team, among others.
The Health Minister expressed concern about patients fighting for attention at health facilities, and said it was unlawful to attack health professionals.
In terms of security, Mr Akandoh said there would be a review and enhanced security arrangements at district and regional hospitals, suggesting a connection between health facilities and local police.
He urged the public to show empathy and understanding towards health professionals, and called for better communication between health workers and patients.
Medical negligence
Answering a question on medical negligence, the Health Minister said the ministry sometimes spent not less than GH¢10 million on medical negligence in one facility.
“As we speak to you now, there are three cases on my table within this week that the Attorney-General has written to me to provide responses to on medical negligence. So, it's a major issue that we are dealing with,” he stated.
