APPROXIMATELY 90% of male accident victims hospitalized to the Orthopaedic and Trauma wards of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi do not have National Health Insurance (NHIS) cards.
The scenario, according to Rose Oware Tweneboah, nurse in-charge of Trauma and Orthopaedics at the KATH, is one of the hospital’s primary health management challenges.
Many accident victims who have been discharged are currently unable to pay their debts, despite the hospital’s efforts to allow victims to pay two-thirds of their fees and then settle the remaining arrears.
“The vast majority of such victims are referred to the Department of Social Welfare for assistance. And, based on her studies, the hospital absorbs individuals who are unable to pay their fees in good faith,” she said.
The nurse made the revelation during an Oli Best Road Safety Organisation (OBRSO) visit to the Orthopaedic and Trauma Ward to commemorate the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims with 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.
