Hamza Suhuyini, a communications team member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to give equal priority to the needs and welfare of patients, not just the protection of its members.
His remarks come in the wake of an incident at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge), where a health worker was reportedly assaulted by the relatives of a patient over allegations of medical negligence. The GMA has since condemned the act and warned of a possible nationwide strike if attacks on medical staff continue.
Suhuyini cautioned that while the safety of medical professionals must be ensured, the frustrations and concerns of patients and their families should not be dismissed.
He argued that many such incidents are triggered by poor communication and lack of empathy from health workers during moments of distress.
“The time has come for the Ghana Medical Association to be responsive not only to the needs of their practitioners. I’ve looked at their objectives, and clearly, there’s also a responsibility to protect the interests of clients — the users of these hospitals,” Suhuyini said.
He emphasized that communication breakdowns often fuel patient frustration, especially when relatives are left without clear information about a patient’s condition or the hospital’s capacity.
“Sometimes, the way we are received by professionals who ought to know better can be demoralising. In some cases, they’re not willing to engage or communicate. You’re there with a loved one in a critical condition and no one explains whether the theatre is full or whether there are resource constraints,” he added.
Suhuyini concluded by urging the GMA and health facilities to improve patient engagement and empathy, noting that better communication could help reduce tensions and prevent further confrontations in the future.
