Doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital have withdrawn anesthesia services after patients suffered multiple complications following the intentional provision of expired anesthesia drugs.
In a letter, issued on 13th February, 2017 by the Chief Anesthetist, the doctors working at the theatre said they have been compelled to take that decision due to management’s insistence that they use the expired anesthesia drugs.
“We are sorry to inform you of our withdrawal of anesthesia services in theatre due to expired anesthesia drugs being supplied”
Doctors working in the Theatre said they were directed and compelled by management to use the expired drugs pending fresh supplies.
At least seven persons are being treated at private health centres for complete loss of memories and severe pains after doctors administered the expired drugs on them.
The drugs had been used on patients for a week until data of patients suffering serious complications begun to rise prompting the doctors action .
“We have therefore decided to lay down our tools with immediate effect and push until the correct unexpired drugs are supplied for efficient delivery of anesthesia”.
Management of the hospital is currently being investigated by the Food and Drugs Authority.
Mershak Gandaa regulatory Officer at the Food and Drugs Authority confirmed the probe but declined to elaborate more on the issue.
Management of the facility responded, however, by providing insufficient new anesthesia drugs which are even due to also expire next month.
Doctors are yet to fully resume work according to checks by Starr News.
Meanwhile, authorities of the hospital have recently been hit with allegations of mismanagement including corruption, looting and incompetence creating a turbulent relation with residents and regional pressure groups.
At a press briefing on Wednesday after the latest revelation, two pressure groups intensified its calls for top management to step down and be investigated.
The groups; Coalition for Change in Government Institutions and Forum for Accountable Leadership, and, Operation Save Tamale Teaching Hospital said management have institutionalized the loot of clients and are calling for the immediate removal of the four top executives including Mr. Mohammed Misbaw, Director of Human Resource.
“Almost every department is learning from the fraudulent posture of the top administrative. Where there is no formal levies by top management, the wards or departments put in their own financial arrangements to also loot their shares of the booty from clients and their relatives. The labor ward is one of the haven for such gross thievery”
“Clients who deliver normally are asked to pay GH¢ 22.00 before seeing their newly born babies. If you alternatively go for an operation to deliver, then you have to pay a surgical pack of GH200 for the surgery; you will pay additional GH100 if a clinician pushes you out of the theatre”.
The groups added: ” ambulance service even within the same facility has become more like trips to Dubai. Patients will have to pay up to GHc100 before they are transported from at most the longest distance of about 200 from their resident wards for either Laboratory investigations or X- rays “.
They ended by issuing a week ultimatum to management to leave post or face fierce protests including picketing, and legal action.
Management of the hospital refused comment as calls and short messages to the embattled Director of Resource Mr. Misbaw Mohammed went without response.
