Doctors and staff of the Police Hospital who are on leave have been asked to resume back to duty to help the hospital deal with the increased number of patient at the facility following a nationwide strike by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).
Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Corporal Faustina Nunekpeku explained that management took the decision due to reduce the effect of the strike by the the GMA on their workers.
[contextly_sidebar id=”68QkDU7RcEIYD5E5S608elxmcT3zr782″]She also noted that the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the hospital now receives over 400 patients daily instead of the usual 250.
In an interview with Citi News, Corporal Faustina Nunekpeku admitted that the strike is putting pressure on the hospital.
“…we have a lot of people coming from other hospitals, as far as Nsawam, Trantra Hills and Kasoa to access the facility and that has actually brought pressure on us. But that notwithstanding, we’ve had to put some measures in place such as leave has been suspended for now. That means our medical doctors, nurses and the hospital staff who would like to go on leave would have to wait until the strike is over. Even those on leave, we had to call them back and some of them have reported and we are trying to manage the situation,” she added.
Corporal Nunekpeku also hinted that they are putting up tents in the premises to accommodate more beds for patient on admission.
“The need has come to increase our bed capacity. That is why we have erected tents at the hospitals premises. Another aspect is that we are looking at procuring more drugs and consumables to help us contain the situation and also our corridors we deem it most appropriate will be furnished with beds and curtains as well as carpets to convert them into wards and I think with all that we are going to have an increase in bed capacity,” added Corporal Nunekpeku.
Doctors and pharmacists in the public sector are currently on strike to demand better working conditions.
They have insisted that they will only return to work when their grievances are resolved.
The situation has affected health delivery in the country with the National Health Insurance Authority has directed its clients to visit private NHIS accredited facilities for medical care.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana