The launch of this ambitious initiative, according to officials, would not only ensure financial transparency, but will also reduce long queues and turn-around time especially when dealing with vital and urgent services at the hospital.
With this new initiative, the public now has easy access to make necessary financial transactions using GTbank services and apps, without having the need to present physical cash at the hospital for medical services.
Welcoming the gathering, Kebba Sanneh, Public Relations Officer, EFSTH, on behalf of the board and management of the hospital, thanked the bank for the cooperation, acknowledging that they have worked through for quite sometime before the launch of the initiative.
He revealed that different banks in the country were also interested similar business with the hospital.
“Presentation of their systems were done through the management. Obviously, GTBank ended up winning our hearts and we believe that we could work closely with the bank in realising the collection of our revenue on a win-win situation.’
PRO Sanneh described the initiative as one of the moments the hospital welcomes greatly, as the world is fast-embracing electronic world, where financial transparency can be conducted through the banks. This, he added, would ensure effective management of the little resource generate by the hospital.
For his part, Malick Mboob, Group Head, Public Sector Group, GTBank, acknowledged that there are over 10 commercial banks in the country.
However, Mboob maintained that when it comes to revenue collection the bank is a pacesetter, noting their efficiency and services delivered.
To that end, he spoke about their other success stories in partnering with institutions to collect on their behalf, recalling that they’ve been rendering those services for over 10 years.
He expressed optimism that the new partnership would leverage on what the hospital has been seeing in the past months. “At this point, all we ask for is the cooperation of the hospital.”
Mary Seck, deputy financial director, EFSTH, while thanking the bank for the initiative, further expressed their resolve to work with the bank in realising their objectives.
Abolaji Yusuff, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guaranty Trust Bank Gambia Ltd., reminded that every sustainable business starts with accountability, adding that one of the problems in sub-Saharan Africa is “our inability to put structures in place and accounts for our revenue.”
GTBank MD while underscoring the importance of financial management especially for institutions, affirmed that at the bank, they have trained personnel and put structures in place to ensure that every butut is accounted for.
He spoke highly of the achievement registered by the bank, saying the bank has been a pacesetter in the area of revenue collection in the country, as they’ve done in the past.
Dr. Ammar Al Jafari, Chief Medical Director, EFSTH, described the day as another joyous and great day for the hospital.
CMD Jafari reminded that the hospital with 700-bed capacity is the only teaching hospital in the country with real Intensive Care Unit.
He spoke about units available at the hospital, adding that they cannot always wait for government’s support.
That, he added, was the more reason why he thought it wise and the need to control their revenue for greater efficiency, as patients’ life is important.
CMD Jafari spoke highly of the offer extended to them by the bank, reminding that there will be challenges along the way, but that they are ready to address those challenges.
He disclosed that there were some leakages in the financial management at the hospital but was quick to defend that they are not blaming anybody.
He called for a need to work together and make the cooperation a reality in their quest to boost the financial base of the institution.
