Healthcare is an integral part of human life. It’s not only about going to the hospital when you’re ill but also going for routine check ups to make sure everything is in place. When it comes to healthcare, we all know that healthcare isn’t free and it can be free. In Ghana here, the government tries their best to make healthcare very affordable for the average citizen but most are still not able to afford it.
The good thing about healthcare in Ghana is that every citizen has the right to own a health insurance card which subsidizes every cost for you should in case you need to visit the hospital. Once you don’t have it, you’d have to cover the cost of everything and that’s why every citizen is encouraged to have their national health insurance card.
Speaking of healthcare, we know and understand that the health practitioners who take care of us at the hospital on the daily basis are also human and that’s their source of livelihood. The doctors, nurses and even lab guys we meet in the hospitals all the time are not working out of the charity. That’s their job, the work day and night to keep us well and at the end of the month, they expect to be paid what is due to them so a they can also cater for themselves and their families as they also have their needs.
Let’s not forget that the air conditioning, the electricity, the water and every other thing you get I enjoy at the hospital during your short or long visit is being paid for and maintained with money. The hospital you see didn’t just jump from heaven to where it is now. Money was invested in it and as a customer, you’re expected to pay what you’re due so as to keep the hospital running and ready serve you whenever you come around.
Now, let’s talk about health practitioners and the general idea that most of them are in for the money. Let’s be honest, being a doctor means that you’re sworn an oath to protect the lives for others and cause no harm to them. But let’s not forget that doctors also feed from the work they do at the hospital and the institution runs and is maintained on integrally generated funds. Some people make decisions they know they’re not ready to fund, example pregnancy and then expect the hospital to take care of them for free.
Things don’t always work this way because we can’t always work for free. Doctors do help people all the time- free surgeries, free drugs and what have you. But until when will we keep funding the lifestyle of others when it comes to their health. If you want to get pregnant and have kids, make sure you have enough money to cater for your pregnancy and any unforeseen circumstances because anything could go wrong an you would not expect your issue to be another charity case.
We can’t help everyone with issues out there. We do the best we can as healthcare providers. Clients should also do try to help in one way or the other instead of just expecting everything to be given to them for free. If anything, the system needs to work to solve all these issues.
all images belong to me.
