From Policy to Practice: Patient Rights and Accountability at Ridge Hospital

Recent investigative reporting by The Fourth Estate has brought to light troubling accounts of patient exploitation at Ridge Hospital, raising serious questions about health service delivery, patient rights, and institutional accountability in Ghana’s health system. These allegations deserve urgent and thorough public scrutiny, especially in light of Ghana’s legal obligations and international human rights commitments.

The investigation uncovered multiple cases in which patients were directed to purchase medical equipment and implants from private vendors at high cost, even though the hospital held the necessary tools in its inventory. In several instances, patients paid tens of thousands of Ghana cedis or equivalent in foreign currency without clear breakdowns of charges or transparency in procurement channels. There were also reports that private pharmacy forms were used within the hospital premises to facilitate these purchases, creating suspicion about conflicts of interest and bypassing established procurement standards.

These practices, as described in the reporting, undermine several fundamental principles of patient rights established under Ghana’s Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). The Act’s Patient Charter enshrines the right to “easily accessible, equitable and comprehensive health care of the highest quality within the resources of the country,” including the right to full information about treatment options, alternative providers, and transparent care processes. It also protects patients from discrimination on grounds such as age, gender, ethnicity, and disability.

At a broader level, Ghana’s legal framework places clear responsibilities on the state and health institutions to protect patients and ensure the quality of care. While Ghana’s 1992 Constitution does not explicitly confer a justiciable right to health, it sets out Directive Principles of State Policy that require the state to pursue “the right to good healthcare” and take appropriate measures to realize this objective. The Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857) and related statutory frameworks also demand professional conduct, ethical practice, and accountability among health workers and institutions.

The patterns described in the investigation point to structural governance issues in service provision and oversight. This is where patient protection laws and regulatory bodies must be more than words on paper: they must be operational in practice. When hospitals and practitioners fail to uphold legal standards of care and transparency, they weaken public trust and contradict the promise of equitable health access for all.

The concerns at Ridge Hospital also resonate with international human rights obligations. The World Health Organization’s Constitution, echoed through United Nations human rights frameworks, recognizes the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right, entitling every person to timely, acceptable, and affordable health care of appropriate quality. Under these international principles, health systems must be non-discriminatory and transparent, and governments are expected to progressively realize health rights, including through adequate legislation and enforcement.

When patients are burdened with opaque charges, inconsistent pricing, and unclear authority structures, their access to equitable care is threatened. This is especially true for vulnerable populations who often lack the means to challenge informal practices. Upholding patient rights is not just about healthcare delivery; it is about ensuring dignity, fairness, and justice at every point of care.

Turning Point Foundation urges the Ministry of Health and relevant oversight bodies to ensure that the investigative committee established to examine these allegations conducts a transparent and participatory review. The committee should engage patient advocates, civil society organizations, and legal experts to reinforce accountability mechanisms and align health delivery with constitutional and international standards.

Healthcare cannot thrive where rights are ignored and patients are left to shoulder undue burdens. If Ghana is to achieve a health system that is responsive, fair, and rights-based, then systemic weaknesses exposed by this investigation must be addressed with urgency, clarity, and genuine reform.