The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has taken a significant step towards improving patient care and upholding dignity by issuing a directive that bans the collection of fees for the use of washrooms in all its facilities.
This move comes in response to reports of some hospitals and clinics charging patients and visitors for using washrooms, a practice that the GHS has deemed exploitative and unacceptable.
In a circular dated April 16, 2025, and signed by Acting Director-General Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the GHS has instructed all Regional Directors to ensure that the practice of charging for washroom use ceases immediately.
The directive emphasizes that washrooms must be kept clean and comfortable at all times to prevent the risk of infection and improve patient care quality.
The GHS has warned that failure to comply with the directive will attract sanctions for facility heads. Regional Directors have been requested to bring the directive to the notice of Heads of facilities for strict compliance, ensuring that patients and visitors are no longer charged for using washrooms.
Beyond the ethical concerns, the GHS has highlighted the importance of clean and accessible washrooms in maintaining public health and preventing infections. By providing free access to washrooms, healthcare facilities can improve patient satisfaction, reduce the risk of infection, and promote a positive perception of patient care quality.
The Ghana Health Service’s directive to ban washroom fees in healthcare facilities is a significant step towards improving patient care and upholding dignity. By ensuring that washrooms are clean, comfortable, and accessible, healthcare facilities can promote public health and prevent infections.
The GHS’s commitment to enforcing this directive will help to restore trust in the healthcare system and ensure that patients receive the care and dignity they deserve.
