Doctors strike week 2: Patients still absent in gov’t hospitals

Two weeks into the strike by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), some major hospitals are said to be reeling from its impact.

The hospitals are being faced with serious challenges including inadequate staff, medical supplies, and beds among others.

The situation has become dire as a result of the intensity of the strike. Reports from across the country predict of a rather precarious situation if interested parties do not act swiftly to save the situation.

Korle Bu

From the Korle-Bu Polyclinic, Citi News’ Magdalene Larnyoh reports that patients who sought medical care had to come between 8 am and 12 noon as only one medical officer was available to attend to patients.

The situation, Magdalene Larnyoh reports was not quite different at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where the main OPD as well as the children and maternity blocks had no medical doctor attending to patients although nurses and midwives were at post.

Ho Regional Hospital

At the Trafalgar regional hospital in Ho, King Norbert Akpablie reported of a low patient turnout as people were aware of the situation. He also stated management had deployed medical assistants and other auxiliary staff to assist in the situation.

Western Region

Western regional correspondent, Obrempong Yaw Ampofo also reports that the Effia-Nkwanta regional hospital which hitherto had huge number of patients visiting the OPD and emergency departments had for the past few days witnessed a drop in number of reported cases. He adds that the facility is providing services to some emergency and attending to in-patients.

Upper West

Meanwhile Latif Mahama reports from the Upper West region that doctors in the region have defied the directive by the GMA as they were at post attending to patients.

General Secretary of the Upper West regional branch of the GMA, Dr. Edward Kolbilla in an interview justified their act saying that they wanted to save lives within the region bearing in mind the already disadvantaged health conditions existing within the region.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citifmonline.com/Ghana