Agona Swedru, Dec 27, GNA - The Swedruman Council of Chiefs has summoned the Medical Superintendent in-charge of the Swedru Government Hospital to appear before it to explain the eminent collapse of the hospital at its next sitting in January, 2006. The Swedruhene, Nana Ogidigram Odiowusew Asiedu Botwe II, announced at the last meeting of the Council that Dr Dzifa Demanya would appear before it at its next meeting

According to the Swedruhene, the chiefs had received reports about the low patronage of the hospital due to problems associated with the implementation of the National health Insurance Scheme in the district. He said some of the reports were about the unprofessional attitude of the nurses and the high cost of blood and urinal tests at the laboratory, which were less expensive at private health facilities at Swedru and Winneba.

Nana Botwe stated that patients also complained about expensive drugs being sold at the dispensary, adding that, information indicated that they cost less at private pharmacies. He said ward assistants and nurses brought their own drugs when they were on night duty and sold them at high cost to the patients and stated that patients had to wait for a long time before they could see Doctors.

Nana Botwe said the Chiefs did not understand why people from Swedru and other towns in the district had to seek medical care at Winneba, Apam and Breman Asikuma instead of the Swedru Government Hospital.

When Nana Kojo Frempong, Chairman of the Board of the Swedru Hospital was contacted he said he had also heard about the complaints, adding that, the matter would be investigated. Nana Frempong who is also the Board Chairman of the Agona District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (DMHIS), said those registered with the scheme had started benefiting. 27 Dec 05