The Renal Patients Association have lamented on the high cost of dialysis following the closure of the Renal Unit in Korle Bu.
This follows the increase of death toll among outpatients in the Renal Unit from fourteen (14) to nineteen (19) , since the closure at Korle Bu in May
Speaking to the press, the spokesperson of the Renal Patients Association, Kojo Ahenkorah, has called on the government to reduce taxes on dialysis as the cost of dialysis is already high.
“Since we left there from May , the new patients are getting to almost about a hundred and fifty (150). We are begging the government. it’s just a plead. We are all taxpayers, so they should try and waive the tax off so that other dialysis and test can bring the price down.”
Member of the Renal Patients Association, Daniel Hammond, who was also present at stated that the cabin is still closed as the death toll of patients has increased since their last press conference.
“As we speak, the cabin is still closed to outpatients and that is having a devastating effect on the patients. The death toll has risen from fourteen (14) patients of our last conference to nineteen (19) patients.”
Mr. Hammond humbly appealed to the government to settle the debt of four (4) Ghana million cedis to suppliers of drugs for dialysis treatment.
” We humbly appeal to the government again to help us to provide the needed support for the Unit at Korle Bu to settle an indebtedness of 4 million Ghana cedis to the suppliers so that OPD cases can resume at Korle Bu renal unit immediately.”
The increased dialysis fees have sent ripples through the healthcare community and raised significant concerns among patients. While the decision to raise fees is intended to address financial challenges and ensure sustainability, it is clear that this issue is far from simple.
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Story by: Zaghe Amey Mwinsongma |univers.ug.edu.gh
