Waive tariffs on free medical consignments – BCI Boss tells gov’t
Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, the Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospitals, has called on the government to waive tariffs on free medical consignments to boost Ghana’s public and private healthcare facilities.
She claimed that to support Ghana’s underprivileged hospitals, many donors are being prevented from exporting more medications and other medical equipment due to excessive tariffs on free medical goods.
She said: “We expect the government to play its part by waiving the cost of duties to encourage local health institutions to import more drugs to assist the government in providing uninterrupted healthcare delivery since the items are distributed freely.”
Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, also the President of Breast Care International (BCI), made the call when she presented hundreds of life-saving drugs worth millions of US dollars to the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG).
The drugs included Drip, Vagina speculum, pregnancy supplements medicine, intravenous infusions, Atenolol tablets, Labitalol tablets and Vicryl.
The presentation took place at Peace and Love Hospital at Oduom, in the Oforikrom municipality in the Ashanti region, on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
The drugs were provided by Direct Relief, a non-governmental organization based in the United States that assists vulnerable people in some middle and low-income countries, including Ghana.
“Many patients with cancer, diabetes, and hypertension cannot afford the required medications, the government’s subsidy of free medical supplies will ensure that these patients continue to receive free medications, thereby enhancing Ghana’s healthcare system,” she stated.
As she handed the medications to the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai urged the recipients not to sell the medications to patients because they were giving them out without charge.
The medications were presented to the Board Members of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), who will also distribute them to various Christian health facilities in the country.
The items were received on behalf of CHAG by Mr. Kwaku Frimpong, a member of the Board of Trustees, who expressed gratitude to Dr. Beatrice Wiafe Addai and her organization for their significant contribution to the nation’s healthcare delivery system.
He stated that the donation came at an opportune time given the country’s recent economic difficulties, and will be beneficial to the vulnerable people, and promised to distribute them freely to patients.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
