The authorities of the Juaso District Hospital in the Asante-Akim South District have expressed grave concern about the increasing public outcry about fees charged by Hospital to convey patients to referral health facilities in its ambulance.
It said the situation was necessitated by the high cost of maintenance and fuel, all of which were from the Hospital's coffers.
The reaction follows growing public disapproval for the practice, which some considered illegal hence the need to abolish it.
"The general impression on the ground is that since government brought the ambulance to boost health care delivery in the interest of the people, there was no need for patients to be charged when they are being conveyed to referral hospitals."
Mr Osei Mintah, the Hospital Administrator told the Ghana News Agency at Juaso that the hospital charges 100,000 cedis and 200,000 cedis to purchase fuel when conveying patients to the Agogo Presbyterian Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital respectively.
He said no provision was made for the fuelling and maintenance of the vehicle when it was handed over to the Hospital hence it had no choice but to charge patients to minimise cost.
Mr Mintah, however, noted that the policy excluded emergency cases, adding that the cost of maintenance was from the Hospital's own resources.