Claims by United Brothers Association, a group based in Bongo that vaccines received by the District Hospital could not be accounted for have turned out to be untrue.
The group, in a petition, demanding the removal of the Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. William Gudu, alleged among other things that drugs and other consumables supplied to the hospital could not be accounted for.
According to the group, the hospital, on November 22, took delivery of 40 doses of anti-rabies vaccines but could only account for 9.
This coupled with what they claimed is mismanagement and misconduct on the part of the Medical Superintendent, they said, is hindering the smooth running of the hospital and general healthcare delivery in the district and thus, their demand for his transfer.
But hospital records Dreamz News cited indicate that the hospital received 20 doses of anti-rabies vaccines on the said date and has fully administered them to 4 persons – 5 doses each – contrary to the group’s claim.
Again, documents Dreamz News cited dismiss claims by the group that Dr. Abdul-Rahman Ayobi, a former medical doctor at the hospital was hounded out of the facility by Dr. William Gudu.
A letter from the Upper East Regional Health Directorate dated November 16, 2021 and signed by the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi instructed the hospital Medical Superintendent to release Dr. Ayobi on relieving duties to the Bawku West District Hospital.
A subsequent letter from the Regional Directorate dated February 10, 2022 and addressed to the Bawku West District Hospital affirmed Dr. Ayobi’s appointment as Acting Medical Superintendent of the Facility.
Dr. Gudu, in interview on State of Our Nation, said he had initially protested against the directive to transfer Dr. Ayobi but had to later give in due to the vacant position at the Bawku West Hospital following the exit of one Dr Akolaa for further studies.
On the group’s claim that Dr. Gudu has contracted his son to work at the Bongo Hospital and grooming him to take over from him as head of the facility, records at the Manhyia District Hospital indicate he is a staff there and therefore, has not been employed to work in Bongo as the group alleged.
Following a claim by the petitioners that some financials gains are accrued to the Medical Superintendent from payments made by patients at the maternity unit of the hospital, Dr Gudu described the claims as preposterous and baseless as he explained that no fees are charged for maternity services. However, there are a group of drugs used for maternity cases which have been covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme but there is a widespread challenge of government paying less than what suppliers charge for the drugs. He disclosed that the deficit cannot be borne by the hospital, therefore patients are required to pay the shortfall to enable the hospital restock.
“When you make this payment, you are given a GCR receipt which is government receipt,” he added.
