The Volta Development Forum (VDF) has requested management of the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) in the Volta Region to launch an investigation into the allegation of medical negligence and abuse against some staff of the facility.

The Forum indicated that it had received reports of health professionals abusing clients, a development it described as worrying and dent in the hard-won reputation of the facility.

“The reported cases include insults, intimidations, and forceful detention of suspected COVID-19 patients” stated in a press release signed by Executive Director of VDF, Daniel Agboka-Dzegede.

He lamented that the development would not only impede healthcare delivery, where vulnerable lives would be put at risk, but would also derail Ghana’s quest in attaining the Sustainable Development Goal 3 “hinged on access to quality healthcare for all”.

The VDF Executive Director, therefore, urged management to punish staff found culpable of abusing any patient to serve as a deterrent to other practitioners.

He also opined that inexperienced health practitioners such as students should not be allowed to undertake “major or delicate surgeries on any patient, especially pregnant women during cs”.

“The facilities at the covid cases isolation center should be properly maintained and be friendly and conducive to patients. We also understand the conditions there are not up to standard and could become the center of Covid rather than treatment”

He urged the Ghana Health Service to periodically provide in-house training to health practitioners on their ethics and professional standards to enable them “contribute meaningfully to the healthcare delivery in the region”.

Response from Management.

The Board of the Ho Teaching Hospital, has, however, responded to the call, indicating “the board and Management have initiated the processes of investigating all the concerns raised in the press statement”.

“Additionally, the Board acknowledges that there may be weaknesses in the systems instituted and has initiated the process to assess the system and work towards exceeding the expectations of all our clients", stated in press release signed by Amos Jah, the Public Relations Officer of HTH.

“We humbly appeal to our cherished clients/stakeholders not to hesitate to approach Management for a redress of their concerns when the established systems fail to address their concerns relating to our services", the release further stated.

He assured the public of the hospital commitment to quality and safe care, which is of its core values.

The Ho Teaching Hospital is envisioned to be transformed into a health tourism centre to attract clients from across the globe.