Patients at the Renal Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital are facing challenges after an increase in the cost of dialysis treatment.
Kidney patients who rely on dialysis will now have to pay over GHC100 more for their treatment, with the dialysis fee rising from GHS380 to GHC491, according to hospital management.
Affected individuals have expressed their concerns to the media, highlighting the impact of the increased costs on their finances and calling for government assistance.
“Today is my session day and because of money, I have not been able to be dialyzed and I will be coming on Thursday, my next session. Because of money, I cannot do it two times and it will affect me until the time I get money for Thursday,” one said.
Another noted that “The difference is by a GHC111. It is too much.”
To mitigate the effect, a patient said “They (gov’t) should put on Health Insurance or take care of for some years so we can ease the burden on our families and friends.”
The Renal Patients Association of Ghana has kicked against the move with its President, Kojo Bafour Ahenkora, calling for its postponement until efforts to include dialysis treatment costs under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) are finalized.
Conversations surrounding dialysis have long been prominent, with the cost of treatment and insufficient machines remaining persistent issues.
In September last year, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) increased the cost of renal dialysis from GHS¢380 to GHS¢765.42.
After public outcry, management of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital indicated that the price review proposed by its Renal Dialysis Unit was yet to be approved. The said increment in fees did not take effect.
On the subject matter, the Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has raised concerns about the National Health Insurance Authority’s (NHIA) allocation of GH¢2 million for dialysis support to needy patients this year.
He believes that a more sufficient allocation would have been GH¢10 million.
Meanwhile, patients receiving treatment at the Dialysis unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital have voiced concerns regarding treatment delays attributed to the limited number of functional Dialysis machines available.
In a related event, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi is positioning itself as a leader in the management and treatment of kidney diseases and renal failure.
The hospital has installed three brand new dialysis machines, which are currently in full operation. An additional 12 new dialysis machines will be installed by the end of May 2024 to enhance its operations.
Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, announced plans to focus on children with renal problems, ensuring they have access to dialysis treatment at the facility.