Melcom Cited for Employee Neglect

Authorities of the Police Hospital in Accra have expressed dissatisfaction with Melcom, Ghana Ltd over an outstanding medical bill of ?3 million which accumulated when one of the company's employees was treated of knife wounds to the heart.

Adamu Ibraihim, 24, casual labourer at the Melcom chain of stores who was stabbed in the chest last October was rushed to the Police Hospital at the point of death.

A Consultant Surgeon, Dr. Zakaria who was then on duty after examining him, realised he was bleeding internally and had blood congestion in his chest. At that point Adamu stood between life and death and emergency measures needed to be taken to save his life.

In addition to giving him a blood transfusion, Dr. Zakaria used his private medical equipment to save Adamu's life.

When Adamu was discharged, the hospital authorities realised that he and his family could not pay the medical bills. So he was detained at the ward for sometime while the family wandered around Accra in search of money to settle the bill.

After second thoughts the hospital decided to present his employers with the bill. But Melcom refused to accept it, arguing that Adamu was not stabbed while at work. "Yet they claim they offer basic care for their employees," the source lamented.

According to the source Melcom said they were not responsible for footing medical bills of complicated treatments such as heart surgery. But the report that Dr Zakaria submitted, did not state that Adamu had heart surgery, but an emergency life saving procedure.

Faced with the unyielding position of Melcom, the hospital authorities had to use their initiative to release Adamu from the hospital to enable him search for money to pay.

The source said it is now one year since he was discharged, and part of the bill is still outstanding. The rest was paid by ?50,000 monthly deductions from Adamu's meagre salary.

When contacted Mr. Mahesh Melwani, Managing Director of Melcom, M.K. Oppong, Personnel Manager and Kwame Atuobi, Personnel Manager of Century/Crown companies confirmed management's decision not to pick up the bill.

Quoting Article 16 of the collective agreement of the company they said the company is obliged to pay medical bills of employees under: drugs prescribed by a doctor, x-ray examination and laboratory tests, dental treatment, optical treatment excluding provision of glasses, ear treatment, but without provision of hearing aids, the cost of laboratory investigations in the process of diagnosis and hospitalisation in a government hospital.

The agreement further states that the provision of free medical care shall not cover maternity treatment or self-inflicted diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases, injury or diseases caused by misconduct on the part of the staff, chronic alcoholism or use of stimulants, drugs etc. and diseases caused while engaged on some other business or occupation other than that of the employer.

Mr Oppong explained that the company could have dismissed Adamu, but they decided to keep him in their employ.