The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has voiced concerns regarding the findings of the committee tasked with investigating the death of the late Charles Amissah.
According to the association, the committee failed to conduct a comprehensive and holistic assessment, resulting in an incomplete account of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The association specifically highlighted its grievances regarding the naming of individual doctors and nurses within the report.
Mr Philemon Gyapong, the acting public relations officer for the association, stated that several aspects of the document are deeply problematic.
He explained that it was the association’s expectation that the committee would assess the broader working conditions, including the logistical constraints and intense pressure under which health professionals at the cited facilities operate.
Mr Gyapong posited that it is unfortunate the report focused primarily on assigning blame to individual professionals.
He argued that the committee neglected to evaluate the facilities themselves, identify their systemic challenges, or propose recommendations to improve the environment in which these professionals work.
He further noted that the report paints a picture that suggests the named health workers do not value human life, ethical standards, or professionalism.
While acknowledging that every patient is entitled to timely, safe, and dignified care—and that no one should die in the manner Mr Amissah did—Mr Gyapong emphasised that the duty of any probe is to establish the root cause of the situation.
He lamented that the capacity of all major health facilities in the Greater Accra Region remains woefully inadequate.
He pointed out that when the emergency bed capacities of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ridge Hospital, Police Hospital, and others are combined, the total is less than 200, a reality that makes referrals extremely difficult.
“When you combine all the major health facilities in Accra, including Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ridge Hospital, UGMC, and the others, the bed capacity in their emergency wards is below 200. This makes it extremely difficult to refer cases. We sometimes have to struggle and make endless calls just to find a place to refer a patient. The committee failed to recognise these challenges.”
The challenges, he stressed, extend beyond logistics.
The committee also failed to comment on the shortage of specialised professionals and critical care nurses who possess the expertise required to manage such emergencies.
Mr Gyapong maintained that nurses and other health professionals in emergency wards are rarely appreciated for the lives they save, yet they face unfair criticism for situations that are often beyond their control.
He observed that while exceptional performance is occasionally recognised, any recorded challenge leads to health workers being “roasted” as people lacking compassion and commitment.
Furthermore, he raised questions regarding the competencies of existing emergency response teams.
He proposed that including professionally trained nurses on ambulances alongside response teams would significantly improve patient management during transit to health facilities.
He suggested that the committee should have incorporated these systemic issues into their final report.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Gyapong addressed the recommendations for disciplinary action.
Philemon stated that if the committee is recommending sanctions against doctors and nurses on the grounds of negligence, it is imperative that these individuals are granted a fair hearing.
He asserted that referring these professionals to their respective regulatory bodies is a positive step, as it allows for proper disciplinary procedures to be followed in a just manner.
