Private Health Facilities to close down in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic

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The executive body of the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFAoG), which comprises of over 1000 health facilities in all regions of Ghana, regrets to announce its intention to advise its members to temporarily close down their facilities to safeguard the health of staff from the wrath of COVID-19. 

While commending Government’s efforts towards containment of the pandemic, we wish to add that Government’s efforts must reflect utmost preparedness at all levels of healthcare delivery across country.

Government’s timely release of funds and exhaustive updates on activities, events and general sensitization drive to pre-empt and curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly commendable.

However, in the wake of escalated cases of infections backed by recent empirical statistics, it is imperative that government prioritizes resourcing private health facilities adequately to cope with the outbreak.

Besides those that were traced or quarantined, many health-seeking victims of COVID-19 first visited private health facilities before being subsequently referred to adequately resourced higher centres. With many government health facilities having to suspend or planning to suspend out-patient services, most patients will be turning to private health facilities for needed care.

Worthy of note are recent global statistics that have elaborated the levels of vulnerability of health workers to the infection:

4,000 cases of infections among in health workers in Spain. 

3,400 cases of infections recorded among health workers in China. 

Over 490 such cases recorded in France. 

Italy, the worst hit country, has recorded over 4,800 cases of infected health workers.

Our homeland Ghana has not been spared either. The recent quarantine of 20 health workers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi attests to the unfavourable level of vulnerability of the healthcare staff. 

Indeed, these are no ordinary times. We are witnessing a state of emergency that necessitates procurement of essential drugs, protective gears for healthcare staff, disinfectants and other essentials.

As of present, majority of private health facilities in Ghana lack the necessary logistics to keep staff safe from infection. Unfortunately, very little has been heard about Government’s intentions towards supporting and empowering Private Health facilities in these times of combat.

With most of our facilities accredited by NHIA, our ability to procure some needed logistics in order to remain in battle have been crippled by prevailing erratic claim reimbursement patterns. It’s sad to note that our facilities are yet to receive reimbursement for services rendered over periods spanning 9 to 14 months. Our numerous pleas to NHIA, the Minister of Health, Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and other stakeholders have all been an exercise in futility.

In the face of the listed challenges, we are left with no option than to consider shutting down our facilities. We do not want to become the agents of spread of COVID-19 to health-seeking Ghanaians. We also wish to stay healthy to be able to support the sick.

Should Government step up its emergency measures to include provision of needed resources to Private Health Facilities, expanding the insurance cover to include health workers of private health facilities alongside immediate release of funds for reimbursement of NHIS service providers, we would not hesitate at all to continue to play our vital role in helping to combat the spread of the pandemic. 

We wish to assure the general public of our unwavering commitment to support mother Ghana in these times of crises.

May the good God be with us.

Signed:

Samuel Boakye Donkor 

Acting President, PHFAoG

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com