Management of the Tamale Central hospital in the northern region have suspended the services of all its casual workers with immediate effect until further notice.
The directive, according to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Mahamadu Mbiniwaya, was necessary following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
He said patients’ attendance at the hospital has reduced drastically since the outbreak of the crisis and consequent to that, it has affected the internal revenue generation of the government facility.
In a memo sighted by thecustodianghonline.com, the Medical Superintendent emphasized that: “Patients’ attendance has been dwindling and the hospital will not be able to generate any revenue for the period that the pandemic is going to be with us. his implies that the hospital will not be able to pay hired labour wages for the entire duration of the pandemic. It is against this background that, all casual workers are disengaged until further notice.”
In an exclusive interaction to clarify the directive, Dr Mbiniwaya reiterated to thecustodianghonline.com that at this crucial moment, the hospital is unable to pay wages of these hired workers.
However, he said not all of these workers have been asked to go home. He added few of them were asked to stay back and continue working for the time being.
“We removed a few of them to stay and work but the rest said once they are not working, then the others we have selected will not also work, they should all go; and came back here in their numbers and ransacked the hospital and chased the others away” he alleged.
The medical superintendent said the hospital spend about eight thousand, six hundred (GH¢8,600) monthly to pay wages of these workers, adding the COVID-19 crisis situation has paralyzed the ability of the institution to generate funds.
He also complained that, the National Health Insurance Authority until last month only paid one month arrears of the debt they owe the facility.
He said: “we can’t do anything because our hands are tight.”
Thecustodianghonline.com has gathered that about 185 casual workers are on the payroll of the hospital.
They include some staff at the records department and private security guards among others.
