The management of Wa Municipal Hospital has directed 19 staff members of the hospital to refund various amounts believed to have been obtained illegally from patients at the hospital.
The decision to refund came after a six-member disciplinary committee found the 19 officials guilty of indiscriminate sale of non-pharmaceutical medical consumables, inappropriate demands from patients, and illegal fee collection at the hospital’s maternity ward.
The refunds, ranging from GH¢4 to GH¢286, according to the management, are part of other disciplinary measures imposed on the affected staff members by the six-member disciplinary committee tasked with investigating complaints of extortion, insubordination, and illegal fee collection, in addition to the illegal sale of non-pharmaceutical consumables at the hospital.
Mr. Sampson Abu, administrator of Wa Municipal Hospital, confirmed the matter on Channel 1 TV, saying the management decided to investigate the staff members after several complaints were received about their inappropriate behaviour.
“The hospital management has recently come under heavy public criticism for the poor attitude of its staff towards customers. One of the most serious concerns is the alleged illegal and indiscriminate sale of non-drug medical consumables to patients in the maternity ward, despite the management’s preventive measures.
“Therefore, to demonstrate our commitment to upholding the dignity of both patients and staff, a committee was formed to look into the matter, and investigations have produced evidence showing that a number of midwives are involved in serious violations.”
The management listed surgical gloves, urinary catheters, urine bags, pads, and bed mats as non-drug medical consumables sold by midwives to pregnant women in the maternity ward without the knowledge of the hospital authorities.
According to him, some midwives have admitted to making inappropriate demands and collecting unauthorised fees, which are contrary to the Ghana Health Service Code of Conduct and disciplinary procedures.
The management explained that apart from refunds, some of those affected will be subject to changes in work schedules and work locations and other disciplinary measures depending on the severity of the violations, which will serve as a deterrent to all other staff at the city hospital.
Abu, however, said all actions taken against staff members were in strict compliance with Chapter 8 Sections 1 and 4 of the Ghana Health Service Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures, which speak of serious breaches and penalties.
The hospital management called on the public to continue to have confidence in the institution and not hesitate to report any issues for redress.
At the time of filing this report, Channel One News had contacted some of the affected midwives seeking responses but were turned down on the grounds that they would meet and deal with them appropriately.
