The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has reacted to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) stringent 72-hour ultimatum to 91 hospitals cautioning them to pay their outstanding debts or risk being disconnected.
According to the General Secretary of Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Richard Selormey the ultimatum is not reasonable and unrealistic so they are not going to adhere to that.
He said out of over GH¢5.7billion debt, the health facilities contribute only GH¢261 million which is equivalent to $4.5 and that they see it necessary to disconnect the power they should go ahead and do it and see the consequences.
“ECG itself must also tariff carefully because out of the total indebtedness they have, health care only contributes %4.5 of this, this is GH¢261 million over the GH¢5.7billion or something that they are owed. Why do you want to start from health care when they have bigger chants waiting, this is just a point on top of the 5 billion. They need to be realistic, the facilities are not paying within the three days that they are saying and if they are going to actually disconnect, then they should disconnect all the facilities and we will all sit and wait and watch what the government does” He sated
“But the 72 hours, I think, is unreasonable and it is not going to be adhered to by anybody and I don’t believe they will cut anybody’s power if you do cut the power we will all wait and see the consequences of it” The Secretary General added.
Dr. Richard Selormey believes the government can n0t bear the cost so they should be honest to Ghanaians and open for stakeholders discussion to reach an agreement on how to settle the debt.
“I think they must move away from that 72hour ultimatum and have realistic discussions so we all come around the table and have an agreement. Let the people of the nation know that healthcare is expensive if the government can not bear the cost, let the government be honest enough and admit that and let the people know that they must share part of the cost or if the camping of the NHIS finances will be brought back so that the full amount they sent to NHIS and all these flick factors into the costing structure of the tariff then that should be done.” He suggested.
According to ECG, hospitals facing potential disconnection over unpaid ECG debt are the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital, Ridge Hospital in the Greater Accra region, Komfo Anokye and Manhyia Government Hospitals in the Ashanti region, Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta region, and Kyebi Government Hospital in the Eastern region.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
