The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has urged victims of medical negligence at the various government hospitals to report perpetrators to the police to serve as deterrent to others.
The issue of medical negligence appears to be on the rise in some government hospitals as some victims storm media various media houses to recount harrowing experiences.
Two men earlier this week stormed the premises of Atinka Media Village (Atinka FM, Atinka TV) to give heart- wrenching details of how their pregnant wives lost their lives through negligence at the Mamobi Polyclinic and the Ridge Hospital respectively.
However, speaking to Atinka News on the sidelines of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day organized by the National Communication Authority ( NCA) Thursday , the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, said it is the responsibility of medical doctors and nurses to exhibit high professional standards when attending to patients .
He said the issue of medical negligence appears to have worsened in recent times, adding that some nurses and doctors have turned hospitals and other health centers into playgrounds.
Dr. Nsiah said there are disciplinary code of ethics for health workers which compel them to do their work professionally, but if they exhibit extreme carelessness resulting in deaths and fatal injuries, then, they must face the law.
He added that there are three options for victims of medical negligence: lodge complaint with hospital Authorities, making a formal complaint to the Ghana Health Service to revoke licenses of offending medical officers and lodging complaints with the police if the offense is criminal in nature.
Dr Nsiah said the Ghana Health Service will introduce important messages via phone for medical doctors and nurses to educate them on how to treat patients.
According to him, the lives of patients should be of prime concern to medical professionals since they are paid to save lives.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Hughes Boateng
