The Wa Municipal Hospital has directed 19 staff members to pay back illegally earned money. The reimbursement amounts range from GH¢4 to GH¢286.
The staff members were found guilty of selling non-drug medical consumables, making improper demands of patients, and collecting unauthorized fees at the hospital’s maternity ward.
The hospital administrator indicated that the decision to investigate and discipline the staff was made after receiving several complaints of inappropriate behavior. The hospital has now taken steps to ensure that such illegal activities do not occur again.
“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.
