QUALITY HEALTH CARE DELIVERY, FOR A HEALTHY NATION

          

                              

The pain of negligence and general lack of care by some health professionals, causing the loss of human lives is worrying, especially in the wake of reports of many avoidable deaths at some health facilities. 

The loss of precious human lives who visit hospitals, hoping to receive attention, get relief or cure and healing from their maladies, cannot be compensated in any form.

It is even disheartening to see that human lives are wasted, because some health workers were just unwilling to be proactive, as a result of one or two reasons. Sometimes it has to do with malfunctioning machines or the unavailability of some medicines or machines at the time of need.

HEALTH PROBLEM

There is no doubt Ghana’s Health System is facing several challenges, including a serious backlog of arrears owed health facilities by the National Health Insurance Authority. Some have to do with the retention and adequate motivation for staff, high cost of operating health facilities and the attitude problem which is affecting quality health care delivery in the country.

In fact, the Government has reneged on its promise to make the payment of National Insurance premium a onetime affair. However, the Government's move in investing in health infrastructure, whereas critical things concerning the sustenance of quality health system, sustainable health insurance, as well as ensuring patient safety and confidence in the care given are lacking, cannot be overemphasised.   

RESPONSIBILITY OF CAREGIVERS

Falling sick is an unpleasant experience and nobody loves being sick? From the look on the faces of patients, it interesting to observe that nobody ever plans to endure the pains of falling sick. Yet the reality is that we all sometimes fall sick once or twice to warrant ones visit to the hospital.

It is nauseating but an uncomfortable moment one have to endure. And if our health facilities cannot do anything to lessen our pains, then it has no business to worsen our plights.

It is a worrying phenomenon that all over the world, millions of people die when assessing health care at the various health facilities. Some causes being negligence by health caregivers, wrong medication to patients, lack of attention, arrogance and impatience in attending to the needs of health seekers and a carefree attitude among caregivers.          

If hospitals or health facilities are established to take care of the health needs of patients, then their core mandate and business must be to give authentic care to patients at all times. This is their duty and anything below this is unhealthy and deadly.  

SAFETY OF HUMAN LIFE

That a healthy people ensures a robust and resilient economy, means Ghanaians health providers and stakeholder involved in health care delivery must place higher premium on human life.

To guarantee the safety of human life at our hospitals, health workers have a responsibility to show love, respect, and dignity to the patients.

In the spirit of giving high value to caregiving venture, all health workers must show compassion and courtesy to all their clients, no matter their status. This way, our health system will mirror not just only a respected service delivery but will be a true and complete healing centre for all. 

ADDRESSING THE ATTITUDE PROBLEM

With the noble intent of saving lives, health workers have seen the pains in people’s eyes. They have even witnessed the death of many and will even see many more. But that the health facilities are in business of offering care, it is my plea that health workers respect the patients and show compassion to them.

Our attitudes must change towards the people we serve. Our caregivers must be unique and help us sustain the gains we have made as a people. Health workers have a duty to demonstrate the goodwill that our health system is one of the best.

Interestingly, like the voter, every day the patient who visit health facilities are becoming enlightened by the minutes, due to the availability of information on the internet. This should make health workers take the services their delivering seriously in order to guard against medico-legal issues that may arise from one or two mistake.

Health workers must bear in mind that the patient you treated yesterday will not be the same patient you will be treating today or tomorrow. They are learning fast, and are aware of their rights and they can sue any health worker and health facility for negligence.