COVID-19: Ventilator Support Averagely Costs Ghc 80,000 at UGMC

The average cost incurred when a COVID-19 patient is put on ventilator is GHc 80,000, the CEO of University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has said.

Dr Darius Osei said in some situations, the cost spikes close to GHc 100,000 depending on the time the patient spends at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The UGMC boss in an interview on Peace FM Kokrokoo, said, so far 34 persons have been sent to the ICU in the hospital, bringing the total cost incurred to over GHC 2.7 million .

He however clarified that, the government bears all the cost for the COVID-19 treatment.

Speaking on the hospital’s COVID-19 case management , Dr Darius said , the UGMC has since the outbreak taken 223 COVID-19 patients, out of which 16 unfortunately died.

Breaking down the COVID-19 mortalities, he said 12 out of the 16 were ICU patients. While the remaining four were in the Isolation ward.

Aside the 223 taken at the UGMC, Dr Osei said, the hospital manages over 1,000 patients from home.

He explained that COVID-19 cases usually accepted at the hospital “ are patients in moderate and critical conditions”. Whilst persons managed from home are usually “patients with mild or no symptoms”.

The UGMC boss however, bemoaned the traumatic impact of the COVID-19 disease on health workers.

He therefore called on the public to strictly adhere to the safety protocols.