Iran Clinic opens emergency unit

The Iran Clinic has opened an Emergency Unit at its facility. The fully furnished Emergency Unit, which operates from 6a.m to 8p.m, can attend to 40 patients in a day. The clinic plans to open its Theatre Unit in the next few weeks to complement the Emergency Unit.

Manned by Dr Hamza Bawumia and supported by a nurse, an administrator and a laboratory technician, the unit started  operation on Monday, November 2, 2015.

The humanitarian hospital, operating in Ghana under the auspices of the Iranian Red Crescent, is located on the Circle-New Town overpass in Accra. It has been operating in the country for the past 24 years.

Aside from its general practice over the years, the clinic has for the last two months been offering specialist care in the areas of gynaecology, urology, ear, nose and throat, paediatrics, dietary, physiotherapy, eye and dental care.

The clinic, which charges GH¢15 for its specialist care and GH¢10 for emergency care, also has an ambulance service and a pharmacy.

Not for profit

Speaking to the Daily Graphic at the start of its operations, the Medical Director of the clinic, Dr Masoud Maleki Birjandi, said the clinic was not for profit but was aimed at providing quality health care to meet the needs of people.

He assured that it was ready to partner with the Ministry of Health to provide optimum service at a cheaper cost to the general public.

according to the Assistant Medical Director, Dr Lisa Hayibor, the clinic, which is a National Health Insurance accredited provider, charges next to nothing for its specialist care compared to other facilities.

She said with 16 doctors made up of six specialists and 10 general practitioners, the clinic was working towards operating a 24-hour service.

The 11-bed clinic, with three at the newly opened Emergency Unit,  presently could only detain patients till it closed at 8p.m and at worse, refer those in critical conditions to other hospitals, she said.

Dr Bawumia, who was formerly with the 37 Military Hospital, also said the unit was ready to handle cases such as convulsion in children, trauma, sudden collapse, accidents among others.

He said with the clinic’s ambulance service, the unit was looking at stabilising patients’ conditions as of now, while those in need of further treatment would be referred when the need arose.