Ghanaians Demand Transparency in National Ambulance Service Fees
Ghanaians are calling on the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to publicly disclose the fees associated with its operations, following reports of inconsistent and unclear charges for ambulance transportation.
The NAS, introduced under the Nana Akufo-Addo administration, aimed to enhance emergency response services, ensuring that every constituency had access to critical medical transportation. However, beneficiaries claim that lack of transparency in pricing has led to exploitation by some ambulance drivers.
One concerned citizen, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) under anonymity, reported paying GHC1,100 for fuel when his son was transferred from Ho Teaching Hospital to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. However, he later discovered that only GHC700 worth of fuel was purchased, with the remaining amount unaccounted for.
Similarly, another individual paid GHC1,500 for her mother’s transfer to Korle Bu, raising further concerns about the lack of standard pricing.
In a separate case, a woman recounted being charged GHC40 for a short 300-meter ambulance ride within Ho Teaching Hospital premises for a CT scan, with the driver claiming it was for fuel.
While NAS officially does not charge for its services, its drivers frequently request fuel payments, leading to inconsistencies.
The Public Relations Officer of Ho Teaching Hospital, Amos Dzah, confirmed this practice, stating, “By policy, NAS does not charge, but what pertains sometimes is the demand for cost of fuel to destinations.”
Ghanaians are urging the NAS authorities to publicly outline their fees to prevent exploitation and ensure that patients in critical need of emergency services are not financially burdened.
Source: GhanaWeb