‘By the time they finish paying, the patient is dead’- Dr Osei fumes over cash-and-cover in emergency care

Dr Darius Osei, a former Chief Executive Officer of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), has launched a scathing attack on Ghana’s cash-and-carry health payment system, particularly in emergency care situations.

Speaking in a recent interview monitored by GhanaWeb, Dr Osei argued that the current system often leads to fatal delays, as critical patients are forced to make payments before receiving life-saving treatment.

“By the time they finish paying, the patient is dead,” he fumed, describing the practice as unacceptable for emergency medicine.

The former UGMC boss called for urgent reforms that would allow health facilities to stabilise patients first, regardless of their ability to pay immediately. He stressed that no one should lose their life simply because of bureaucratic financial barriers at the point of emergency admission.

Dr Osei’s comments have reignited public debate about the effectiveness of Ghana’s healthcare financing model, with many calling for a more robust emergency care protocol that prioritises clinical need over upfront payment.