Good day family. Had my medicals at AKAI today and would like to share the experience. My interview is in November 2017 but I may not be able to travel to Accra in October for the medicals because of work schedules thus had to do it earlier.
I had called AKAI Clinic earlier to seek info and book and I was told that I don't need to book for medicals. I can walk in Mon - Fri, 8am to 1pm to do it. I arrived at the clinic around 9:00am to begin. I had budgeted to spend a maximum of GHS2,000 on the medicals. There were about 7 clients there when I arrived also going through medicals for US and other countries. At the reception, a lady asked to see my passport + appointment letter then told me it will cost GHS1,900+ (I have forgotten the exact figure she quoted but it was between 1,900 - 2,000). She needed to confirm I can afford before she gave me a form to fill.
I filled the form and sent it back to the desk. A gentleman took the form, went through it and requested for my passport and six (6) passport size pictures and asked me to sit and wait. (Note that I had read from earlier threads about passport pictures needed and the recommendation was to have AMERICAN size passport pics for ALL. Since it's cheaper to have more copies of same pic than taking a normal passport size photo for pre-interview stuffs + an American size for the interview itself. I simply walked to a photo studio and took an American size type and requested they print 12 copies for me...they print in multiples of 6).
After waiting for approximately 15 minutes, my passport was given back to me with a small sheet of paper attached...it had "USVE" written on it. I was asked to take it to the opposite room where my blood pressure, weight, and height were checked. Afterwards, I was asked to go to the next room (Vaccination room). There, I met two ladies who started telling me about vaccinations I am about to receive and asked whether I have ever had chicken pox infection before - which I answered "Yes" because I had it several years back. I had taken Hepatitis B and Yellow Fever already so I had my yellow card. I told her I have taken some vaccinations already too. She requested to see the yellow card...I showed to her and she said "Ok", it has been noted and removed from the list of required ones.
She now gave me a payment advice sheet with the following vaccinations ticked: MMR, Polio, DT, and Meningitis. The total cost of these four (4) was GHS740... which as a health professional, I know it's extremely too expensive compared to how much I would have paid if I took the vaccines from a Ghana Health Service facility.
NB: Don't be afraid to start/take your vaccinations at ANY government hospital before going to start your medicals. It will save you about GHS400 honestly. Don't be a victim IT'S NOT A MUST TO HAVE THE VACCINATIONS AT AKAI. You can do it anywhere and ensure that you're issued a Ghana Health Service Yellow Card. Not all government hospitals are certified to give vaccinations...but the certified ones are many...find out and start the vaccinations there. Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, MMR, Polio, DT and Meningitis - as many as you can do outside AKAI, the more money you will save. The same drugs are used at the government hospitals but are far cheaper. For those going for medicals for family... take this free advice from a certified health professional. Save money when you can.
From the vaccinations room, I went to the cashier to pay GHS 740 for Vaccinations + GHS 1,030 meant for the physical examination, lab, and x-ray. From there, I was asked to send a copy of the receipt to the vaccination room and proceed to the consulting room. I waited for about 5 minutes before I was called to the consulting room. The doctor asked me series of questions relating to my medical history...whether I have any known illness or infections, any surgery, whether I drink alcohol, I smoke etc. Just basic questions that you answer yes or no depending on your medical history. After that, I was asked to proceed to a screened section of the room and take off all my clothing except my pant...and lie on a bed. The female doctor came around to do physical examination...nothing extreme. Open your mouth...let me see your eyes etc. I spent about 15 minutes for that.
From the consulting room, I was asked to go to the next room which is a lab. My blood sample was taken and a small container was given to me for urine submission. I went to the washroom just few steps away and took the urine sample for them. From there, I was asked to go downstairs to take x-ray. There I was asked to take off only my shirt and underwear for chest x-ray. By 10 minutes, I was done. I climbed back up to the vaccination room to take the shots. A drop of vaccine was put in my mouth and two (2) injections were given at my left shoulder and addition one (1) at my right shoulder. I thought they would be painful but the pain was below expectation...lol. After the shots, the lady asked for the collection date of my medical report (which had been written on my receipt)...she said I am to take the second (2nd) shot of the MMR on that day and that will cost me GHS 350 so I should prepare. (I just laughed in my head because I'm surely gonna take the second shot at a government hospital - which wouldn't cost up to GHS 150). It's allowed in medical practice to have your shots at different hospitals so far as it's the same drug and given at the right time.
For those who are waiting for their 2NL, I strongly advise you start your Hepatitis B vaccination asap at any government hospital that can issue you a yellow card. You need at least 3 months to complete Hepatitis B vaccination. The best timing is to take 1 shot, take the 2nd a month after, and take the 3rd five months from the second shot. Do your own calculation so you can start and finish on time before you travel. Hep. B vaccines are for life...I had mine in 2014 and I wouldn't be required to do it again.
Also note that the cost ranges between adults and kids.
NB: I had my medicals at AKAI Clinic just because I happen to be in a hotel very close to the clinic. I am in no way recommending AKAI compared to Holy Trinity. I don't know the current cost of medicals at Holy Trinity and the processes involved over there.
I hope this long contribution full of typos guides someone out there. I will go to the CID Headquarters tomorrow if God permits to apply for the police report. Hope to be able to give similar account on the process afterwards.
#LetLoveLead
