ABOUT 90 per cent of male accident victims who are admitted to the orthopaedic and trauma wards of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi for medical attention do not have the National Health Insurance (NHIS) cards.
Rose Oware Tweneboah, nurse in-charge of Trauma and Orthopaedic at the KATH described the situation as one of the major health management challenges facing the hospital.
Currently, many accidents victims who have been discharged are unable to pay their bills despite measures put in place by the hospital for victims to pay two-thirds and later pay the arrears.
“Most of such victims are being referred to the Department of Social Welfare for an intervention. And for those who cannot genuinely pay the bills upon background research, the hospital absorbs that,” she stated.
The nurse made the disclosure during a visit to the Orthopaedic and Trauma Ward by Oli Best Road Safety Organisation (OBRSO) as they celebrated the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims under the theme: “Remember Support Act.”
KATH, she said, is a specialist hospital, and therefore, its medical bills are a bit expensive than other district hospitals, and warned the public not to take the health insurance for granted.
She also appealed to other organisations and philanthropists to come to the aid of victims who are unable to pay their medical bills and also assist the ward with wheel chairs, commodes, aid accessories and orthopaedic beds.
Richard Karikari, CEO of OBRSO, said his outfit’s visit to the hospital was to find out some of the challenges at the Orthopaedic and Trauma Wards and how best they could help.
He presented 10 cartons of Kalyppo and 20 packs of mineral water to the ward with a promise to donate a table top refrigerator.
FROM Lonta Doris, Kumasi