Management of Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua (ERHK) has stated that the hospital does not detain patients unable to pay their medical bills.
According to management, it has established a social work unit which deploys various protocols to deal with such situations and at all times detention has never been a part of these protocols.
A statement signed and issues by the Medical Director of the Hospital Dr.Arko Akoto Ampaw to news reports that some 20 new mothers were detained for their inability to pay their medical bills clarified ” the Hospital has a database of discharged but-in patients and there has never been over 20 new mothers stranded at the maternity block due to inability to pay bills.As an institution we have protocols on dealing with those who are unable to pay their bills and detention is never one of them.The social work unit is duly mandated to advise management on those who are unable to pay their hospital bills”
On May 24,2023 Mybrytfmonline.com published that some new mothers have been left stranded at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua for their inability to pay their medical bills.
Most of the new mothers went through caesarean sections ,while others had their babies admitted at the neonatal Intensive Care Unit ,services which have become very expensive in recent times.
The new mothers who claimed they were over 20 said their medical bills ranged between Ghc4,200 to Gh1,000.
Some narrated that “We were referred from Begoro to this place.My Children were twins they put them in machine(incubator )they say one is dead yet they have not shown that dead baby to me because they say I have not paid my bills. Yet they have given us.What to eat is even a problem [she cries]. They said I should pay Ghc4,200”
Another said “I have been discharged but I have not been able to pay my bills so still detained .There was blood from my baby’s mouth and nose .They gave the baby blood and oxygen but the baby died didn’t survive .They have however given me a bill of Ghc1,200 to pay.
I have Health Insurance but it doesn’t work.I came from Begoro.I am now stranded”.
“My bill given to me is also Ghc1,000 They gave my baby oxygen .I came from kyebi I am stranded” another stranded new mother narrated.
Lastly, a new mother from suhum also added “For me it is my bill that I am unable to pay.I have been detained.I have paid some but left with Ghc1,000 .I came from Suhum I don’t have anyone to help me”
However according to management of the facility,” the social work unit has no such report from the maternity unit block as reported by your Journalist”.
Meanwhile Mybrytfmonline.com is aware that some individuals and organizations contacted management to pay for the medical bills after the publication.
The Eastern Regional hospital continue to make huge revenue losses to patients who abscond every year due to pay
The hospital for instance,loss GH¢103,476 from about 75 patients who absconded after inability to pay their medical bills in 2022..
In 2017 and 2018, losses made to patients who either absconded or could not pay their medical bills due to poverty amounted to almost Ghc350,000
According to the Hospital, “in 2018 about 20 patients sneaked out of their sick beds and absconded with total medical bills of Ghc11,080 while in 2017, 52 patients also absconded at the blind side of the Hospital Authorities with total medical bills of Ghc23,000.”
As stated during the publication and emphasized in the rejoinder by Management, the hospital has instituted social welfare services for the poor and vulnerable who genuinely cannot pay their bills to sign undertaking for payment in installments.
Source:Mybytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
