The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to launch a full-scale investigation into the “Medical Kalabule” expose`.
It has called for a full criminal and administrative probe, including a forensic audit of neurosurgical procurement and billing at Ridge Hospital from 2021 to date, as well as a review of Axis Pharmacy’s financial and inventory records.
The petition follows revelations in MFWA’s investigative journalism project, The Fourth Estate documentary series, titled “Medical Kalabule,” which revealed how some neurosurgeons at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital divert desperate patients to a private facility called Axis Pharmacy to purchase overpriced implants for surgery.
The patients are not allowed to see the items they bought because doctors say the implants, accessories, and tools have to be sterile.
In one instance, a patient was billed GHS30,000 for a Subdural Evacuating Port System (SEPS), despite evidence suggesting the item costs about $150 on the international market.
In another case cited, a Nigerian patient was directed to purchase a “Brain Stem Neuronavigation set,” initially priced at GHS7,000 but later revised to $7,000.
The patient reportedly paid the amount but died after surgery, after which the hospital issued an additional GHS54,000 bill. The family said they were not allowed to inspect the items, as they were sent directly to the theatre. Axis Pharmacy is also accused of issuing lump-sum invoices without itemised breakdowns, further limiting transparency.
According to the petition, the investigation uncovered an “organised and sustained scheme” targeting critically ill patients and their families, effectively turning healthcare delivery into a profit-making enterprise.
The petition stated that some doctors routinely divert patients from the hospital’s internal systems to purchase surgical items from Axis Pharmacy using non-standard forms. The doctors reportedly bypass the hospital’s official prescription, procurement, and billing systems, removing transactions from institutional oversight.
The petition also raises concerns about vague prescriptions, with items described broadly as “neuronavigation set,” “VR system,” or “brain stem neuronavigation,” equipment the MFWA says the state has already procured and is available at the hospital. This lack of clarity, it argues, makes it difficult for patients to verify what they are paying for.
The petition also cites a 2023 internal audit report by Ridge Hospital, which flagged an “unauthorised arrangement” between the surgical department and Axis Pharmacy and recommended that the hospital take over procurement and billing. The practice, however, is said to have continued. Internal memos from 2017 and 2019 also reportedly questioned doctors over similar conduct, including the direct collection of money from patients and issuance of unofficial receipts.
Another key concern is that Axis Pharmacy is allegedly not licensed by the Food and Drugs Authority to import or sell medical devices and implants between 2021 and 2025, yet patients were still directed to procure specialised equipment from the facility instead of approved suppliers.
The petition further documents cases of direct payments to medical personnel. In one instance, a patient was asked to pay GHS3,000 to a surgeon as a “service charge” before a toe amputation, in addition to an official hospital bill. A second procedure attracted another GHS4, 000, allegedly covering the doctor’s fee and a “special saw”, an instrument that typically costs between $14 to $40.
The MFWA urged the OSP to investigate possible offences, including collusion, procurement breaches, inflated pricing, unlicensed sale of medical devices, and violations of the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006 (Act 723), as well as potential fraud, extortion, tax evasion, and abuse of office.
The petition also seeks the prosecution of culpable persons and protection for whistleblowers and affected patients.
“Healthcare must never become a space where suffering is monetised,” the petition states, urging swift action to restore public trust.
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