He said adherence to clinical protocol enables healthcare providers to offer appropriate diagnostic treatment and care services to patients. Prof. Delle noted that however, in the medical field one of the things that actually made patients to despise a clinic or a hospital was the lack of protocol.

He explained that this was because many health professionals had not been trained to handle people well.

Prof Delle made these remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday on the side-line of the second edition of the ‘Protocol Matters 2018 Conference and Exhibition’ in Accra.

The two-day conference, which is being organised by Prosline Events Ghana Limited, is on the theme “The Importance of Protocol in Tourism, Corporate Life, Security and Inter-State/Inter-Faith Relations”.

It aimed to assist in the knowledge of fundamental principles of protocol to improve the image and productivity of the individual and institutions through effective protocol. It is also aimed at equipping institutions, event managers, churches and hospitality operators with cutting-edge skills for the protocol industry, since the cornerstone of all functions and events rested on the recognition and effectiveness of protocol procedures.

"Protocol is about handling people and it is difficult for us (medical professionals) because the people who come there are like babies; even the greatest of us all when we are sick, we are like babies,” Prof Delle stated.

Prof. Delle urged health professionals to treat every patient with respect, respond appropriately to their needs, and then have a caring attitude for them.He also appealed to health professionals to relate well to visitors at health facilities.

“Protocol in medicine is also linked with timing, and I think most of us (clinicians, doctors and the service providers), we don’t respect the time of the patients. And I think it is very bad. It is a disease all over the world,” he said.

“We must know that people have things to do in the house, they have professions and when they come to the clinic we make them wait for a longer period.”    He urged managers of health facilities to organise regular protocol training for their staff to build their capacities in healthcare delivery.

“It is our lack of knowledge about protocol, which is making it difficult for people to admire us and appreciate us, so let’s all learn about protocol and I think it will help us.”

He lauded Prosline Events Ghana Ltd for organising the ‘Protocol Matters 2018 Conference and Exhibition’.