Tension erupted at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Ejisu Government Hospital in the Ashanti Region on Monday morning after two male patients receiving treatment engaged in a violent fight that left hospital computers and other equipment damaged.
A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the two men exchanging blows inside the hospital ward as other patients and staff looked on.
According to eyewitness accounts and information gathered by newsmen, the two patients had earlier been involved in a separate altercation outside the hospital during which both sustained injuries.
They were subsequently brought to the Ejisu Government Hospital for treatment and admitted to the A&E ward.
Hospital sources say one of the patients allegedly became agitated while on admission. He got off his hospital bed and attacked the other patient, who was also receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the earlier fight.
Health workers on duty quickly intervened to separate the two men. However, in the ensuing scuffle, several desktop computers and other hospital equipment in the ward were destroyed.
Some health workers who spoke on condition of anonymity said the incident caused panic among patients and staff, but calm was restored after about an hour and normal hospital operations resumed.
“We were all shocked. It happened so fast. We had to call for help to separate them before they damaged more things,” one staff member said.
Information gathered indicates that the patient alleged to have initiated the fight and caused damage to the equipment remains on admission under police surveillance.
When journalists visited the hospital on Tuesday to seek official clarification, management declined to comment, stating that the appropriate authorities were unavailable.
The Ejisu Government Hospital serves thousands of patients from Ejisu and surrounding communities. Health officials have not yet disclosed the cost of the damaged equipment.
The incident has sparked renewed calls for improved security at public health facilities to protect patients, staff, and hospital property.
Some health workers say verbal and physical altercations are becoming more frequent in emergency wards, and are urging the Ministry of Health and hospital authorities to deploy dedicated security personnel to high-risk units.
Police say investigations into the matter are ongoing.
