Dr Nii Oku, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has called for the strengthening of supervision in public health facilities to improve the quality of care.

He noted that private hospitals were performing because there was all the time a sense of ownership.

This is what is needed in the public sector to bring about more efficiency, cautioning that the apathy would have to end.

Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of a ceremony held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Nurses and Midwives Association in Kumasi, he expressed discomfort at the situation where many in public service do not give of their best, knowing that whether they work or not, they will receive their salaries at the end of the month.

Dr. Oku said that would have to change, and that people must accept to work for their pay.

“I am not saying that all health workers in the government facilities are lazy, but the reality is that many of them do not show enough commitment, due to the lack of proper supervision and motivation.”

He described the state of supervision in the public hospitals as weak, and said that needed to be reviewed.

Dr. Oku expressed strong support for the idea that the government weaned itself from services in the health and education sectors, and said that would promote competition and bring out the best in these sectors.

A retired Deputy Director of Health Service, Mrs Susanna Efaa Twum, urged health professionals to work with passion to save lives and bring relief to the sick and those in pain.