COVID-19: “Insurance for deceased front-line lab scientist still unpaid” – Med Lab Association

The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists has revealed that the insurance compensation that was due to be paid to the Medical Laboratory scientist who died from COVID-19 last year has still not been paid.

In a press release available to Dennislaw News, the Association alleges that “his insurance package promised by the government has still not been paid to the family he left behind. He left behind a beautiful wife with three beautiful children including a 2-month-old baby at that time.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Association, Dr. Dennis Adu Gyasi confirmed to Dennislaw News that the departed professional died from COVID-19. According to Dr. Gyasi, the deceased was part of the team involved in contact tracing and testing, during the peak periods of the pandemic.

“We know there was an insurance package that was supposed to be given to people who succumbed to the virus. My checks with the family, even as of yesterday indicate that they’ve received nothing. This was somebody who left behind three children. As of that time, he had one of the babies around 2 months, that will be almost nine, ten months now. We think that is unfair.”

President Akufo Addo announced in his 5th April 2020 nationwide broadcast that an insurance package with an assured sum of GHS350,000 had been earmarked for all frontline health workers, in addition to several other incentives for such persons who had direct contact with individuals who had contracted the coronavirus.

However, Dr. Adu Gyasi has revealed that several follow-ups by the Association have not yielded the needed return. He further hinted that the promised 50percent additional allowance of the basic salary per month for frontline workers promised to commence from March to June 2020 has also not been paid. According to him, there are concerns that this may disincentivize others.

“The family was called upon somewhere last year to come and reaffirm certain documents but unfortunately, no payment has still been made. We’ve done several follow-ups, just like always following up on this 50 percent allowance to infected people and all that, but it’s quite unfortunate those who hold and wield the power and who call the shots keep tossing, and this person is responsible, and this person should have done it … and a whole lot of things. We’ll keep following up. We don’t think we will want to go and rain down a whole system because of this, but this is a call. It sort of breeds apathy. We need to encourage people to know that this country is worth dying for.” 

On whether the Association would consider court action if dialoguing fails, the PRO mentioned that “it could be a possibility, but we think that being at the table to discuss is the way to go.”

The deceased medical lab scientist died from COVID-19 on Monday 22nd June 2020. He had been rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital there days prior after he had trouble breathing. He worked at the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital before his death.