Health Minister directs investigations into how a hit-and-run victim was refused emergency care by Ridge, Police, Korle Bu hospitals for close to 3 hours before he died
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has directed investigations into the circumstances under which a hit-and-run victim was refused emergency care by three major hospitals in Accra - Ridge, Police and Korle Bu - for close to three hours before he died last week.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have on numerous occasions reminded managers of health facilities not to deny emergency care to casualties under the excuse of no vacant beds available, but the directive has constantly been ignored.
On numerous occasions, the health facility managers have been told that under no circumstances should a patient be denied admission due to the unavailability of beds, as part of broader measures to eliminate the phenomenon.
The GHS for instance has explained that beds are not necessarily required to treat emergency cases, which can be handled anywhere in the hospital, including on a couch, table, wheelchair, or bed.
However, last Friday's case of Charles Amissah suggests that the directive was ignored.
more to follow...
