The Chairman of the Health Committee of Parliament Dr. Twum Nuamah has given the assurance that all health professionals who would be found guilty of ethical misconduct in the death of the 70-year-old man who was refused bed in seven health facilities will be punished.
According to him, the kind of punishment that will be meted out to the offenders will serve as a deterrent to others in future.
The man who was struggling with breathing died after he was turned away by seven different hospitals in Accra for lack of beds.
Prince Anthony Opoku Acheampong, the CEO of Printhony Printing Press in Adabraka, a suburb of Accra finally died in his car at the LEKMA Hospital after he was turned away from the Adabraka branch of C&J Hospital, Korle Bu Polyclinic, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Ridge hospital.
The other hospitals he was turned away from include the Police Hospital, the Trust Hospital and finally the LEKMA hospital.
The son of the deceased, Obiri Yeboah took to social media at the weekend to share the sad events leading to his father’s death.
Speaking on Morning Starr, Mr. Yeboah said they begged the doctor at the LEKMA hospital for several minutes just to administer first aid to his father but the doctor consistently said “there is nothing I can do” without even assessing the status of the patient.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Nuamah expressed regret and promised that the health committee will work to improve conditions at health facilities in the country.
“We must pay attention to our health facilities as well, so we can give the best of medical attention to our patients.
“We must deal with personnel who do not conduct themselves well. Those who have to be punished will be punished to serve as deterrence for others after investigations have taken place,” he told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Monday.
The Ghana Health Service has also noted the matter is being investigated and the findings will be implemented.
“When a health official is caught in medical negligence, investigations are conducted and the necessary sanctions are applied,” director general of the Ghana Health Service Dr. Nsiah Asare said.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
