Bolgatanga (Upper West) -- THE Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, last year, spent a total of ?321 million in respect of 14,000 patients, who were exempted from paying fees under the government?s exemption policy.

Accordingly the government, has refunded the amount involved to the hospital authorities without delay.

Under the exemptions policy of the government, the aged, pregnant women and children under five, among other category of persons, are expected to receive free medical attention in all government health facilities.

The Medical Director of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Dr Adoko Amiah, who announced this at the end-of-year party and awards for staff of the hospital, expressed his gratitude to the hospital Advisory Board for their leading role in the administration of the hospital.

The Medical Director also disclosed that the regional hospital is at present without a functioning mortuary and an ambulance.

He said another major problem that has almost brought the operations of the hospital to a halt is the persistent power fluctuations.

He added that the structure is so bad that the hospital has lost most of its sensitive equipment, and that there is an urgent need for a separate transformer for the hospital to save expensive equipment from breaking down. According to Dr Amiah, a survey conducted at the hospital revealed that patients are not satisfied with the attitude of some members of staff and that management has put in place necessary measures to stem the tide.