Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu
The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, says it is illegal to hoard government procured Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), after investigations conducted by the Health Ministry revealed that some people have been hoarding the PPEs.
Addressing the concern of health workers at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on Wednesday, the Minister of Health said the illegal acts have prevented several health workers from having protective suits as the country combats the deadly coronavirus.
“Our search reveals that some of us are hoarding the PPEs. We even got some reports that some are selling back to us, particularly the face masks,” he said.
The Minister indicated that, as part of the efforts to curb the illicit act, his outfit will now engage directly with the facility to supply them with the product devoid of the institutionalised channels.
“If [health] centres call us (Ministry of Health) to tell us that they have still not received their PPEs, we do not go through the channel; we move straight to either the region or district for the PPEs to be distributed,” he assured.
Stop hoarding
Reacting to the hoarding of PPEs, the General Secretary for Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Justice Yankson, said individuals found culpable should be dealt with in accordance to the law.
Dr Justice Yankson said in any human endeavour, there are people who would want to take advantage of the system, even though the state of global emergency is not the best time for such activities.
“I do not really understand why people will be hoarding PPEs, but if investigations have brought this to light then the Health Ministry, through the Ghana Health protect Service, should give a clear cut directive to all managers of healthcare facilities not to hoard the PPEs.”
The GMA General Secretary also indicated that the supply of PPEs to health facilities is now better than two months ago.
Following several complaints by health workers in the country over inadequate supply of PPEs to the various hospitals, the government resorted to the local production of protective gears to solve the problem.
