[ 2012-04-20 ]

Most medical equipment and consumables donated to Ghana obsolete - Ministry
Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed that about
98 per cent of donations from philanthropists to
the health sector had been found to be
decommissioned by their countries of origin.

Dr Nicodemus Gebe, Head of Biomedical Engineering,
MOH, who announced this, said such medical
equipment and consumables donated to the sector
often had to be destroyed due to their obsolete
nature and the fact that they lacked visible
expiring dates or manufacturer’s contacts on most
consumables.

He said the Ministry would not allow Ghana to be
used as a dumping site for such obsolete medical
equipment and consumables.

Dr Gebe was responding to questions relating to
the state of infrastructure in the Health Sector
at a dialogue session at the on-going Third Ghana
Policy Fair in Accra on Thursday.

He noted that apart from the fact that their usage
could pose serious negative health implications,
most of the electrically operated equipment such
as Ultra-Sound and X-Ray machines and computers
had been found declared as non-compliant with
power voltages in their countries of origin and
therefore could also not be used in Ghana.

However, Dr Gebe indicated that the Ministry had
developed a policy guideline on donations to the
health sector, adding “The guidelines have been
circulated to all embassies, but it is unfortunate
that some of such donations still find their way
into the country”.

He explained that the Ministry had limited the
acceptance of donations to items such as drip
stands, beds and bedside cabinets, but expressed
the hope that with time Ghana would be able to
halt the reception of such donations entirely to
prevent their associated problems.

Dr Gebe called on all stakeholders as well as the
Sector’s development partners to assist the health
sector deal with the challenge.

The Fair, organised under the auspices of the
Ministry of Information, had Mr Joe Gidisu,
Minister of Roads and Highways presenting the
achievements, challenges and future plans of the
Sector.

He recounted the numerous achievements of the
Ministry but accepted that there were still
countless challenges, regarding the development
and completion of infrastructure.

Mr Gidisu however, said the Ministry remained
committed to completing all projects to ensure
that Ghana’s road network met the demands of an
oil economy.

Panelists answered critical concerns of
stakeholders relating to their respective
Ministries, taking note of suggestions and
critiques on various policies and programmes in
order to enhance their performances.

They promised to take immediate action to address
the various concerns raised.

Source - GNA

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