Management of the Ghana National Ambulance Service has debunked claims of taking money from patients and their relatives for rendering emergency services.
Ashanti Region Administrative Manager for the Service Duut Miilon, speaking on Akoma FM‘s current affairs and political show GhanAkoma Thursday, January 13, explained that “the Ghana National Ambulance Service does not charge a dime for rendering emergency services because that’s our core mandate”.
He appealed to the public to report such instances to any of their outlets for appropriate sanctions.
He, however, explained that there are some instances when a person demands for a service that is not emergency. It is then that a negotiation for payment is initiated.
“Let me be quick to add that we don’t charge a dime for emergency services as I’ve already indicated but we take small amount of money for services that are not emergency. For instance, when a patient is hospitalized at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and then he or she willingly wants to be transferred to Korle Bu; with that we charge for the fuel and other values which are even relatively cheaper, so let’s not mistake emergency services for non-emergency services.”
Mr Duut was speaking on the back of the death of a nursing mother identified as Augustina Awortwe, who was being transferred in an ambulance from Takoradi to Accra.
There have been allegations that her death was caused by delay due to personnel of the National Ambulance Service demanding for money for fuel to convey the patient to her referred destination.
The issue has caused public backlash at personnel of the Service but Mr Duut begged to differ on the subject as he explained “no fare is charged for rendering emergency services such as childbirth, surgery and accidents”.
By Nana Asenso Mensah|Akoma FM|3news.com|Ghana