Dr. Thomas Annabah, Executive Director for the African Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis, says the devastating report by the Ministry of Health has exposed the Winneba Medical Trauma and Specialist’s Hospital.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has escalated an alleged case of medical misconduct involving officials at the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba by referring the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Attorney General’s Department for further examination.
A statement dated October 2, 2024, signed by its Public Relations Officer, indicated that the Minister for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has directed that the conduct of the implicated hospital staff be reported to the appropriate authorities.
The decision follows an investigation by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), which found that these officials had failed to take proper action in handling a patient who was transferred to Ojobi and later abandoned until her death.
Speaking on Starr Today with Tutuwaa Danso, Mr. Anaba condemned the hospital’s actions, stating that the report is “very fair” and “deeply investigated”.
Dr. Anaba notes that she was also anemic, which could have contributed to her behavior. However, he emphasizes that people’s actions and inactions led to her death.
“This is a clear case of criminality, and those responsible must be held accountable,” Dr. Annabah said. “The mere fact that she was abandoned, deliberately abandoned by those who are supposed to protect her. Abandoning somebody who cannot walk and go and look for food to eat, cannot move to go and look for water to drink means that you just push her into her grave.”
Dr. Anaba expects punishment to be meted out soon, possibly by the close of the week.
“We need to take responsibility for our actions, and we need to take responsibility for our inactions. We need to make sure that we are providing the best possible care for our patients, and we need to make sure that we are holding ourselves to the highest standards of accountability.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Candy Nana Esi Arthur
