The unexpected closure of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s Dialysis Unit for nearly two weeks has left patients in dire straits, forcing them to seek costly treatment at private facilities.
The lack of access to affordable care has placed immense financial and emotional strain on those who rely on the unit for life-saving dialysis.
The shutdown, reportedly due to a shortage of essential medical supplies, has raised alarm among patients and their families.
President of the Kidney Patients Association, Baffour Ahenkorah, has expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the hospital authorities.
“The dialysis unit was shut down, and this Sunday will mark exactly two weeks. 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 told Joy News.
The closure has forced many patients to turn to private centers, where the cost of dialysis is significantly higher. Ahenkorah highlighted the financial burden this has created for patients who already struggle to afford treatment.
“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.
“We are human beings and deserve to be treated with respect. The fact that we have end-stage kidney failure doesn’t mean we should be neglected.”
Ahenkorah emphasized the need for clear communication from the hospital, urging authorities to provide patients with information about when the unit will reopen. “If we know that Korle Bu will be unavailable, at least we can make alternative plans,” he added.
The closure has also drawn condemnation from the Health Committee of Parliament, particularly following reports that three kidney patients have died as a result of the shutdown. Central Tongu MP and committee member Alexander Roosevelt criticized the decision, questioning why the unit was closed when funds had recently been allocated to support kidney patients.
Roosevelt pointed out that the National Insurance Authority had requested 2 million cedis to assist kidney patients under 18 years and over 60 years, and had announced an additional 2 million cedis to cover the bills of renal patients at Korle Bu. Despite this, the unit remains closed, leaving vulnerable patients without access to the care they desperately need.
As patients and their families anxiously await the reopening of the dialysis unit, the lack of communication and support from hospital authorities continues to cause distress and uncertainty.