'No-bed’ syndrome: Mahama taunts government over infrastructure

Former President John Mahama has taken a swipe at government following the public anger at the death of a 70-year-old man who died after seven hospitals refused to admit him for lack of bed.

Commenting on the horrific incident which received national attention, Mr Mahama reminded government of their stands on his infrastructural while in government.

“Very sad development. There are some who said “we don’t eat roads! We don’t eat hospitals!” “We must expand access to health facilities across the country,” Mahama tweeted.

Anthony Opoku Acheampong, the CEO of the Printhony Printing Press in Adabraka, a suburb of Accra died in his car at the LEKMA Hospital after he was turned away from the Adabraka branch of C&J Hospital, Korle Bu Polyclinic, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Ridge hospital.

The other hospitals he was turned away from include the Police Hospital, the Trust Hospital and finally the LEKMA hospital.

The seven Hospitals according to the Ministry of Health are responsible for the death of Mr. Opoku Anthony.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Ocquaye has called for laws to criminalize the turning away of patients by health professionals under emergency situations.

“The law is not as adequate as we sometimes think. In other countries, I know they specifically provide for such matters. And we should look at our own provisions as to issues like this. No public hospitals, no medical person employed in the public owned facility shall refuse to attend to a person who’s brought in an emergency situation to a public hospital, and that that’ll be an offense and a crime. In fact it is very easy to associate that with manslaughter. The essence of it is negligence. So you will know that when such a person dies you this doctor or nurse you are going to be charged,” he said.