‘No-Bed’ Death: Systemic Failure Needs Redress – GMA

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has appealed to government to provide more funds for the health sector with enough allocation to emergency services to curtail avoidable deaths.

The call by the GMA comes in the wake of the death of a 70-year-old man over the weekend due to an apparent unavailability of beds which the GMA blamed on systemic failure.

GMA criticised the non-functioning emergency services departments of health facilities and called for collaborative efforts especially from government to address the problem.

“The ministry of health must ensure the successful implementation of the Accident and Emergency Services Guidelines developed in 2011,” a statement issued on Thursday 14 June 2018 which was signed by GMA Assistant General Secretary Dr Titus Beyou, noted.

Meanwhile, Parliament has issued a one- week ultimatum to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and LEKMA Hospital to furnish it with details surrounding the death of the 70-year-old man.

The death of Anthony Opoku Acheampong sparked huge anger on both social and traditional media after several attempts to seek treatment at some six hospitals – C&J, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Polyclinic, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Police Hospital and Trust Hospital failed amidst explanations that there were no available beds.

Subsequently the Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Oquaye, tasked the joint committees of Health and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary affairs to investigate and help unravel the circumstances leading to the death.

Source: ClassFMonline