Mr. Faris Atrickie, General Manager and Technical Operations at SIC Insurance Company PLC, has called on all medical professionals to have medical malpractice insurance protection.
According to the General Manager, who doubles as the Technical Operations of SIC Insurance Company, medical malpractice insurance protection is key, and as such, must be embraced by all medical professionals.
“Medical malpractice insurance is a specialized type of professional liability insurance that covers physician liability arising from disputed services that result in a patient’s injury.”
Mr. Faris Atrickie
Mr. Faris Atrickie noted that there is the need for medical professionals to seek insurance coverage for themselves as individuals, and as well as for their business entities. He indicated that the insurance cover a range of expenses associated with defending and settling malpractice suits. “It also pays damages if found liable.”
Mr. Atrickie who was speaking at the ‘Stakeholder Engagement and Workers’ Appreciation Day in Accra,’ tasked professional bodies to study the new Insurance Act, Act 1061 of 2021, especially Section 216.
Mr. Atrickie stressed on the need for medical institutions to have professional indemnity cover. “Medical institutions needed to have professional indemnity cover so that if by accident their clients suffer death or injury, the insurance could take care of it.”
The General Manager noted that Professional Indemnity has become compulsory through the new insurance Act, which replaced Act 726 of 2006.
“Now, this new insurance act made it compulsory for any employer to ensure that every employee should come under the professional indemnity cover and an employer that fails to do so, if found guilty, will be fined or made to serve a term of imprisonment or both.”
Mr. Faris Atrickie
Mr. Atrickie stated that there have been a lot of cases recorded regarding loss of life as a result of the negligence of the medical practitioners, hence the need for professional indemnity insurance. He expressed concern about the low patronage of that insurance even though the Act made it compulsory for all professional Institutions.
Mr. Atrickie averred that the implementation of the act has been a major concern and called on the media to raise awareness about the insurance packages for the citizenry to be aware and be able to exercise their rights when the need arises.
“The Insurance Act 2021 stated that an employer of a professional person specified in the second schedule shall insure and maintain an insurance under any qualifying professional indemnity with a licensed insurer for the professional persons.”
Mr. Faris Atrickie
Motorcycles Not Insured
Contributing to the discussion, Mrs. Cynthia Kwarteng Tufuor, Tema Area Manager of SIC, iterated that motorbikes and tricycles: “Okada,” “Pragia,” and “Aboboyaa” are not insured for commercial transportation business and therefore, cautioned the public against patronizing them.
This, Mrs. Cynthia Kwarteng Tufuor, explained that the laws of Ghana make commercial usage of motorcycle means of transportation illegal and as a result, are not insured for commercial purposes. “You board commercial motorbike or tricycle at your own risk in case of an accident.”
Mrs. Cynthia Kwarteng Tufuor disclosed that even though the motorcycles may be insured as required by law, it does not cover commercial purposes.
However, Mrs Tufuor stated that the insurance covers a rider who uses it for personal purposes and not for commercial reasons.
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