MFWA petitions OSP over "Medical Kalabule" investigation

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to launch a full-scale investigation into the "Medical Kalabule" expose`. It has called for a full criminal and administrative probe, including a forensic audit of neurosurgical procurement and billing at Ridge Hospital from 2021 to date, as well as a review of Axis Pharmacy's financial and inventory records.

The petition follows revelations in MFWA's investigative journalism project, The Fourth Estate documentary series, titled "Medical Kalabule," which revealed how some neurosurgeons at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital divert desperate patients to a private facility called Axis Pharmacy to purchase overpriced implants for surgery. In one instance, a patient was billed GHS30,000 for a Subdural Evacuating Port System (SEPS), despite evidence suggesting the item costs about $150 on the international market. In another case cited, a Nigerian patient was directed to purchase a "Brain Stem Neuronavigation set," initially priced at GHS7,000 but later revised to $7,000. The patient reportedly paid the amount but died after surgery, after which the hospital issued an additional GHS54,000 bill. Axis Pharmacy is also accused of issuing lump-sum invoices without itemised breakdowns.

The petition stated that some doctors routinely divert patients from the hospital's internal systems to purchase surgical items from Axis Pharmacy using non-standard forms. The petition also cites a 2023 internal audit report by Ridge Hospital, which flagged an "unauthorised arrangement" between the surgical department and Axis Pharmacy and recommended that the hospital take over procurement and billing. Internal memos from 2017 and 2019 also reportedly questioned doctors over similar conduct, including the direct collection of money from patients and issuance of unofficial receipts