The Member of Parliament for Juaboso and Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has denied Parliament’s involvement in the recent hike of dialysis treatment fees at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
KBTH’s decision to increase dialysis costs from GH¢380 to GH¢491 drew concerns from the Renal Patients Association of Ghana, who highlighted the added financial strain on patients.
In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Wednesday, Mr. Akandoh clarified that Parliament did not authorize the fee adjustment, stressing it was an independent decision by the hospital.
“We never agreed at the Committee level that the cost of dialysis must be increased. What happened was that the Ministry of Finance must waive all taxes on the [regent] of dialysis. So, it came to me as a shock when all the media houses were calling to tell me that fees had been increased. I don’t get it.
“Then, when you talk about that, they make it sound as though Parliament has done some proposal and has gone ahead to approve it. We will go to Parliament on Friday and I hope to catch the Speaker’s eye to address this matter” Mr. Akandoh stated.