Management of the Goaso Municipal Hospital in the Ahafo Region has issued a dire SOS to the government and private stakeholders, warning that the facility’s ability to provide quality healthcare is rapidly collapsing under the weight of systemic neglect.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. James Ankomah, revealed that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims for the facility remain locked up in arrears spanning from August to March.

The lack of reimbursement has made it nearly impossible for the hospital to procure essential medical supplies or maintain existing equipment, leaving the facility in a state of operational paralysis.

He said the internal road network remains not tarred, creating dust during the dry season that threatens respiratory health, and thick mud during the rainy season that impedes the movement of patients and ambulances.

Furthermore, the hospital is currently without a reliable alternative power supply.

"Our existing generator is over-aged, and the maintenance costs are astronomical," Dr. Ankomah lamented.

"We are operating in a high-stakes environment without a dependable backup, which is dangerous for any surgical or emergency procedure."

Dr. Ankomah lamented the critical lack of radiographers, inadequate medical doctors, and a shortage of allied health professionals, adding that the hospital’s X-ray machine has broken down, forcing patients to seek diagnostic services elsewhere.

The Medical Superintendent noted that a crucial infectious disease center project has been abandoned, leaving the region vulnerable to potential outbreaks, saying that the facility lacks official vehicles for administrative and emergency operations.

Dr. Ankomah emphasized that these challenges are not just administrative hurdles, they are costing lives. He noted that the lack of a modern data management system and the shortage of critical staff are significantly hindering the facility's efforts to reduce maternal mortality.

"The timely provision of infrastructure, equipment, and critical staff will contribute significantly to the fight against maternal deaths and other key service indicators we are working to improve," he stated.

The hospital management is calling on the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and benevolent organizations to intervene immediately.

Without a dedicated infusion of resources and the payment of NHIS arrears, the primary healthcare provider for the Goaso municipality remains on the brink of a total shutdown.