The management of Wa Municipal Hospital has instructed 19 of its staff to refund various sums of money believed to have been illegally obtained from clients.
This decision follows a disciplinary investigation by a six-member committee, which found the staff guilty of improper conduct, including the indiscriminate sale of non-drug medical consumables, making unauthorized demands from clients, and collecting illegal fees at the maternity ward.
The refunds, which range from GH¢4 to GH¢286, are part of a series of punitive measures imposed on the affected staff.
The committee was tasked to investigate allegations of extortion, insubordination, and the illegal sale of non-drug consumables at the hospital.
Sampson Abu, the Administrator of Wa Municipal Hospital, confirmed the issue on Channel One TV.
He stated that, the investigation was initiated in response to numerous complaints regarding inappropriate behaviour by the staff.
“The hospital’s administration has recently received significant public criticism for its awful staff conduct towards customers. One of the most serious concerns was the alleged illegal indiscriminate sale of non-drug medical consumables to clients at the maternity ward, notwithstanding management precautions.
“So in our quest to demonstrate commitment to upholding the dignity of both clients and staff, a committee was formed to investigate the issues and the investigations came out with evidence implicating a number of midwives in grave violations.”
The administrator cited surgical gloves, urinary catheters, urine bags, pads and bed mats as some of the non-drug medical consumables sold by the midwives to expectant mothers at the maternity ward on the blind side of the hospital’s authorities.
He said some of the midwives also confessed to improper demands and the collection of unauthorised fees contrary to the Ghana Health Service’s code of conduct and disciplinary procedures.
The Administrator explained that, apart from the refund, some of the affected persons will suffer changes in their work schedule or places and other punitive measures depending on the gravity of their offences to serve as a deterrent to all other staff of the municipal hospital.
Mr. Abu, however, said all the actions taken against the staff were in strict adherence to Chapter 8 sub-sections 1 and 4 of the Ghana Health Service code of conduct and disciplinary procedures which talk about major offences and penalties.
Management of the hospital urged the public to continue to have trust in the facility and not to hesitate to report all issues for redress.
At the time of filing this report, Channel One News contacted some of the affected midwives for their responses but they declined with the reason that they were going to meet and respond appropriately.
ALSO READ:
