AFRO-NETS> Power disconnection endangers lives of patients

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

Power disconnection endangers lives of patients
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http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/230328/page2f.htm

Dear All,

The story below is not an isolated Ghana occurrence. In addition to 
frequent power outages of various durations, deliberate power cuts 
for non-payment of accumulated utility bills has been visited for ex-
ample on major (1,000+ bed) hospitals like the University College 
Hospital, in Ibadan, Nigeria at different documented occasions. There 
may be many other occurrences all over Africa.

The action poses a number of policy issues for consideration. Few are 
raised below:

* Is it ethically and managerially appropriate for tax-payer funded 
public utilities to cut power supply to tax-payer funded non-profit 
public hospitals, thereby endangering lives because of unpaid utility 
bills?

* Are alternative debt settlement systems not available for consid-
eration by public utilities?

* Should the supervisory authorities of public hospitals (i.e. minis-
tries of health) be made to underwrite public hospital debts? 

* Shouldn't public hospital authorities and their supervisory au-
thorities consider pushing for legislations outlawing deliberate 
power and other utility cuts to public and other non-profit hospitals 
for reasons of non-settlement of bills?

* Is this behaviour actionable in law by people whose lives were put 
at risk? But then, the monopoly power utility company in Nigeria for 
example is known to be protected by an old legislation from being 
sued for any acts of omission or commission whatsoever. What a trav-
esty of justice.

Please share. Comments are welcome.

A. Odutola 
Centre for Health Policy & Strategic Studies 
Lagos, Nigeria 
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com


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Power disconnection endangers lives of patients

Ghanaian Chronicle 03/28/03

George Antwi, Donkorkrom

But for the timely intervention of the Afram Plains district assembly 
(APDA), many lives would have been lost at the Donkorkrom Presbyte-
rian Hospital when the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) discon-
nected power to the hospital. 

The reason for ECG?s action was that the hospital owed the company 
¢11 million in user-bills. 

At the time of the disconnection, many patients were billed for thea-
tre and some essential but expensive drugs also needed electric power 
for preservation. 

Speaking to Chronicle, the general manager of the hospital, Mr. Fred 
Effah Yeboah, stated that when the ECG threatened to disconnect the 
hospital lines, the management pleaded with them to exercise patience 
since many lives would be in danger and many essential drugs would 
also be destroyed, but the ECG ignored the plea and went ahead with 
the disconnection.

He said the hospital management then rushed to inform the Afram 
Plains District chief executive (DCE), Mr. Benjamin Anokye, who per-
sonally went to plead on behalf of the hospital, but the ECG stood 
their grounds, refusing to reconnect the power. Sensing danger, the 
hospital transferred their seriously ill patients to other hospitals 
such as the Kwahu Government hospital at Atibie, transporting them 
several kilometres on the bumpy road between Kwahu Adawso and Kwahu 
Tafo, after ferrying them on the vast lake. 

At this stage, the DCE, on behalf of the assembly, intervened, paying 
¢8 million out of the ¢11 million of the bill and the hospital man-
aged to source ¢3 million to settle the difference before power was 
restored. 

According to the general manager, the failure of the hospital to set-
tle its bill was not deliberate but due to lack of funds. He said the 
people in the area, who are predominantly farmers, are generally poor 
and incapable of settling their bills after attending hospital, with 
most of them failing to attend hospital at all. 

He disclosed that a number of patients owed the hospital fees total-
ling over ¢30 million and said since the hospital is mission-run, 
which operates on humanitarian grounds, it could not turn patients 
away or force those who could not afford payment to pay, hence their 
inability to settle most of the utility services provided. 

He said he explained all these to the ECG but they went ahead to dis-
connect the hospital, putting lives and property at risk. 

He therefore appealed to utility service providers in the district to 
come to terms with the reality on the ground and co-operate with the 
hospital to save precious lives, most whom are farmers, producing the 
bulk of the country?s food requirements. 

Yeboah thanked the Afram Plains DCE and the entire assembly for com-
ing to the aid of the hospital to save lives and property. 

He used the occasion to appeal to organisations and individuals to 
come to assist to enable it perform adequately to enhance health de-
livery in the area. 

In a related development, the hospital has been adjudged the best 
managed mission hospital in the Eastern region for the year 2002.

Source: http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/230328/page2f.htm

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