The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry Of Health, Tony Goodman has said financial challenges at the Accra Psychiatric hospital are due to some “managerial issues” which can be addressed.

READ ALSO: Accra Psychiatric hospital closes down OPD

Even though government released some funds when the hospital took a similar action in August this year, Management of the hospital says the money is not enough for food and medical supplies.

Commenting on the matter, Tony Goodman told Pulse.com.gh that his outfit is yet to be briefed on the matter.

“Some of these things are managerial issues. It doesn’t get to the Ministry of Health on time. You know they [Accra Psychiatric hospital] are directly under the Mental Health Authority. So it is the Authority that reports to the Ministry of Health. So we have to find out from the Mental Health Authority first,” he said.

Background

The hospital earlier announced on August 3, 2016, that it had suspended admission of patients into the facility over a GHc4.1 million debt.

READ ALSO: Admission of patients suspended

The Ministry of Health subsequently intervened and released an amount of 1.5 million Ghana cedis to be shared equally among the three Psychiatric hospitals, namely Pantang, Ankaful and Accra, to offset some of the debt owed suppliers.

Emmanuel Febiri, a nurse and member of the Public Affairs directorate at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital has however toldPulse.com.gh that the amount is not enough, and hence the decision to suspend admission for new cases, as well as, operations at its Outpatient department.

“The amount involved was 4.2 million Ghana cedis and out of that we were given only 521,000 Ghana cedis, and that money that was given too came with specific instructions that we should pay our suppliers. So the management paid the suppliers hoping that they will come back but they are also saying that the money is woefully inadequate and so not until the entire money is paid, they are not coming back to supply us with the logistics that we need,” Febiri explained.

He added that calls on the government to intervene have proved futile and hence “we are not admitting anyone except those who are on admission that we are taking care of.”

“As I speak to you, common things like pens, books, gloves, we’ve run out of them...there are no medications as well,” he said.