The closure of the Renal Unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has sparked widespread outrage and concern, especially after it was revealed that three kidney patients have tragically died due to the disruption in services.
The unit, which has been closed for nearly two weeks, was reportedly shut down without any official explanation, leaving vulnerable patients in a dire situation.
The Health Committee of Parliament has strongly condemned this closure, with members expressing shock and disappointment at the situation.
Baffour Ahenkorah, President of the Kidney Patients Association, confirmed the deaths, stating that the closure has put an unbearable strain on patients who now have no choice but to seek treatment at expensive private facilities.
Member of Parliament for Central Tongu and a member of the Health Committee, Alexander Roosevelt, expressed his deep concern in an interview with Citi News.
He questioned the transparency and honesty of the National Insurance Authority (NHIA), which had recently assured the Health Committee that funds had been allocated to support kidney patients.
“The National Insurance Authority appeared before our committee requesting an amount of 2 million cedis for payment of the bills of under 18 and above 60 people who have these conditions. And they also came out boldly a few months or weeks ago emphasizing that they had released an amount of 2 million Ghana cedis and there was going to be an additional amount of 2 million that would be given to the Korle Bu hospital to settle the bills of people with renal cases,” Roosevelt recounted.
“I am just surprised that I’m being told that the setup has been closed down mainly because they do not have medical supplies,” he added, expressing disbelief at the current state of affairs. “Is this where Ghana has reached? It’s a very serious situation. It’s something that one cannot fathom and I can understand. How can we joke with the health of our own people?”
The MP’s comments highlight the growing frustration and confusion over the handling of the healthcare system in Ghana, particularly at a time when critical services like dialysis are being interrupted due to administrative or logistical failures.
The closure of the Renal Unit at Korle Bu has forced many patients to seek care at private centers, where the costs are prohibitively high, ranging from GH₵600 to GH₵1,000 per session.
Most patients require at least two sessions per week, making the financial burden nearly impossible to bear for many.
Baffour Ahenkorah echoed these sentiments, stressing the dire consequences of the unit’s closure. “Because Korle Bu is a government facility, the prices here are relatively moderate—not cheap, but affordable for most of us. However, private centers are charging between GH₵600 and GH₵1,000 per session. Most of us require two sessions a week, which means we need at least GH₵1,200 weekly. Many simply cannot afford this,” he said.
He also expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the hospital authorities. “We don’t even know what is happening or why it was closed. No one has informed us, and we are left in the dark. This situation is creating serious problems for us,” Ahenkorah stated.
The situation at Korle Bu has become a national concern, with calls for urgent action to reopen the Renal Unit and prevent further loss of life. The Health Committee of Parliament is demanding answers and accountability, as the crisis continues to highlight the challenges facing Ghana’s healthcare system.