Barely, 24 hours after the “Times” published the plight Of Madam Ayi Kpakpa, 73, who was being detained at the at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital due to her inability to pay ?2.2m hospital bill, a philanthropist, Samuel Adusu Mensah of Abossey Okai in Accra has come to her aid.

The President of Ghana-Parkistan Friendship Society, then decided to give ?4m to cover the total cost of the further treatment for Madam Kpakpa at the Radio Therapy Centre of the hospital; but was told it had already been cleared. Siddique said that his society is planning a collaborative programme with the various health institutions in the country to see how best it could assist such people in future.

It is not certain how the case fits into the exemption policy announced by the government for senior citizens, pregnant women and children under five years.

When contacted by the ‘Times’ to clarify the situation, Miss Georgina Adu-Amankwah, Principal Nursing Officer in charge of the patient’s ward said the policy was not applicable at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. “Here everybody pays for his or her medical treatment including even doctors”.

Madam Kpakpa who hails from Ahi near Agbozume in the Volta Region was officially discharged on 5 June 2003 after successfully undergoing a surgical operation to correct a medical condition known as carcinoma of the cervix. But due to her inability to pay, she has been prevented from leaving her ward.

Madam Kpakpa told the “Times” that her son paid ?300,000 last Wednesday and pleaded that she should be released and the rest of the amount paid later, but the hospital authorities refused. She therefore appealed to benevolent organizations and individuals to come to her aid.