The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has described as unfortunate circumstances that led to the death of a 30-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn baby at the Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi.
The late Angela Afriyie Agyemang is said to have been refused entry into the labour ward because her relatives could not immediately deposit a GHC500 “Doctor Motivation Fee”.
She later died at the theatre after her husband paid the GHC500 fee.
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According to her husband, Pastor Solomon Lamour Latiff of the House of Faith Ministry in Kumasi, he had taken the deceased to the hospital on Tuesday when she started complaining of pre-labour pains.
He told Accra-based Class FM as monitored by adomonline.com one Dr Sarpong then informed him the wife will need a Caesarean Section (CS) which required that he pay GHC500 ‘doctor motivation fee’.
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But in a reaction, President of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Frank Ankobeah say there is nothing like a ‘Doctor motivation fee’ in the medical profession.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Morning Show “Dwaso Nsem” Wednesday, he wondered why a doctor would charge such an amount.
“Throughout my practice as a doctor, I have never heard of anything like a doctor motivation fee. I’m wondering how they came up with such a fee. It’s the state that pays us and so if there is any challenge, it’s government that we will turn to and not a dying patient,” he said.
According to Dr Ankobeah, a committee has been set to investigate the matter.
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“We have dispatched some members to that government hospital to listen to their side of the story. A committee has been set to conduct investigations into the matter and we will come out with findings by next week,” he said.