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Koforidua Hospital loses revenue: 201 patients fail to pay GH¢168,405 medical bills
• Dr Akoto-Ampaw speaking at the meeting
Two hundred and one patients treated at the Eastern Regional Hospital at Koforidua, vanished into thin air without paying their medical bills totalling GH¢168,405
Narrating the sad story to The Spectator at Koforidua, Dr. Arko Akoto-Ampaw, the Medical Director, revealed that a total of GH¢103,476 was lost in 2022 because 77 patients failed to pay the hospital fees after they had been treated.
He claimed that in 2021, 58 patients failed to pay their bills, amounting to GH¢39,356, while in 2020, the hospital lost GH¢25,573 because 66 patients defaulted.
He was worried about the trend and said that the continuous loss of such huge sums of money annually was a drain on the hospital’s coffers.
Dr. Akoto-Ampaw, who spoke to The Spectator during the hospital’s 2022 Annual Review Meeting with the press, advised patients who owed the hospital to approach the Social Welfare Department to negotiate payment plans in case they were unable to pay their medical bills but not to sneak out of the facility.
The review meeting was held to make public the hospital’s activities undertaken during the year under review, and to explain their achievements and challenges, as well as the way forward.
The Medical Director explained that “sometimes we want to give a
human face to some of these situations, and because we are a government hospital, we do not want to take money before we serve the patients.
“Human life is important, and so we first take care of the patients and then demand the money later; that should not warrant some patients running away.”
He said, “this place is not a prison, and so you cannot also prevent people from walking about and taking fresh air, and that is how they disappear. They take their things out one after the other, and then they vanish.”
Dr. Akoto-Ampaw said the hospital had put in measures that would ensure that patients were tracked and made to pay after treatment or sign undertakings before they were allowed to leave the hospital.
He said that some patients classified as “paupers”, that is, those for whom the hospital was certain they genuinely could not afford to pay for the services rendered them, also caused a loss of GH¢3,183 in 2022, GH¢9,096 in 2021, and GH¢9,561 in 2020.
He disclosed that out of a total amount of GH¢166,760 owed to the hospital by patients who signed undertakings to pay later, GH¢34,136 had been redeemed.
He said the hospital had rehabilitated some facilities, including washrooms for the mother’s hostels, a CT scan ward, a pre-operating room at the main theatre, and the construction of an autopsy unit.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammy Awuku, has expressed deep sorrow following the sudden passing of Isaac Batsa, the constituency secretary for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker issued a statement on Tuesday reacting to the news, which has shocked the local political community.
Mr.Awuku praised the late NDC secretary for his bipartisan approach to local governance.
He noted that despite their different political affiliations, Batsa consistently rose above party lines to serve the constituency with diligence.
The MP revealed that the news was particularly shocking given that he had last interacted with Batsa just three days prior on Saturday.
Concluding his statement, Sammy Awuku extended his heartfelt condolences to Batsa’s family, the constituency and regional executives, and the entire NDC fraternity, wishing the deceased peaceful eternal rest.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
