The recent events at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) have been strongly condemned by the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), which called them a disturbing affront to due process and a flagrant abuse of power by the Minister of Health.
Following the hospital’s CEO’s termination and what it described as the public harassment of emergency room physicians during a visit by the minister and the member of parliament (MP) for Tamale North, the association voiced its disapproval.
“The manner in which the dismissal was carried out is an affront to due process and abuse of power by the Hon. Minister of Health. The GMA stands in solidarity with our colleagues in the wake of these injustices being perpetuated.”
Ghana Medical Association
In a statement signed by GMA President Dr. Frank Serebour and General Secretary Dr. Richard Selormey, the association denounced the treatment of the medical staff, especially during the high-profile visit that seems to have been sparked by worries about a patient’s untimely death at the facility.
The GMA claims that the Emergency Unit’s doctors endured professional and public humiliation, which the organisation believes is unwarranted and detrimental to healthcare workers’ morale.
Ill-Informed Media Audit
The association was especially critical of what it called an “ill-informed media audit” into the patient’s death, claiming that it breached patient confidentiality and put the hospital at risk for medico-legal issues.
The GMA argued that such public engagements not only prejudge the matter but also whip up public sentiment without addressing the real and systemic issues underlying challenges at the hospital.
“The head of the Emergency Unit, has already received threats and cyberbullying, putting him and other staff at risk of physical harm and psychological trauma. These acts, if continued, have the tendency of demoralising committed workers and reducing public confidence in the health system.”
Ghana Medical Association
The GMA stressed that there are established processes for resolving complaints in the health sector, even though it acknowledged that the grieving family’s and government officials’ concerns might be justified.
The group expressed disapproval of the public handling of the matter, warning that these “circuses of public engagement” seldom result in long-term fixes and instead serve to exacerbate tensions.
The GMA has responded by demanding an unconditional apology from the Tamale North MP and the Health Minister.
Additionally, it called on the hospital’s administration to use the proper institutional procedures to carry out an exhaustive and objective investigation into the patient’s death.
Calls for Institutional and Systemic Reforms
Furthermore, the GMA is requesting that the hospital act immediately to ensure the security and psychological health of the impacted employees, especially those who have been subjected to harassment and public criticism.
It also emphasised the necessity of systemic change and issued a warning against using medical personnel as scapegoats for more significant institutional shortcomings.
“It is worthwhile noting that doctors and other health workers work in trying circumstances with limited resources, oftentimes using their meagre personal resources to deliver care”.
Ghana Medical Association
Instead of turning to public blame games that unfairly single out frontline workers, the GMA reiterated its commitment to tackling the more profound, systemic issues facing the health sector through productive discussion and cooperation.
Depending on how events at the Tamale Teaching Hospital develop, the association also alluded to potential future actions.
“The GMA is closely monitoring the situation in the facility and, for that matter, all other facilities and will advise our members appropriately in due course,” it concluded.
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