The Renal Patients Association of Ghana has called on government to settle the GH¢4 million debt owed by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to suppliers of dialysis consumables.
This debt has led to the closure of the unit to outpatients, resulting in the unfortunate loss of 19 outpatients from the renal unit since its closure in May 2023.
The association’s spokesperson, Kojo Ahenkorah, emphasized the importance of paying this debt to reopen the renal unit for outpatients. He pleaded with the government, expressing the urgency of the situation and the suffering it has caused.
Ahenkorah also shared his personal experience of being unable to afford dialysis at a private facility due to the closure of the unit at Korle-Bu.
“We cannot fight the government, we are pleading with them,” Ahenkorah said in an interview with Citi News. “I don’t think Ghana cannot raise GH¢¢4 million within a day or tomorrow to pay this money. So we are just pleading with them because what will be the point that today you open and tomorrow you close again? Already people are dying, people are suffering.”
In the meantime, the Renal Dialysis Unit’s outpatient department at the hospital partially reopened on November 6, following its closure to outpatients since May 22, 2023. This reopening came after an increase in dialysis treatment costs per session from GH¢380 to GHS¢765.42 was announced on September 27.
The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, directed the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to immediately reopen the unit last Thursday.