The cost of renal dialysis at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has risen from GHS380 to GHS765.42. This has sparked widespread outrage, with many people concerned about the cost of the procedure.
Dialysis is a life-saving treatment for renal failing patients. When the kidneys are unable to eliminate waste materials and extra fluid from the blood, it does so.
However, it is an expensive procedure that many Ghanaians cannot afford.
Some persons who rely on dialysis treatment at KBTH expressed concern about the price hike in an interview with Citi News. According to one trader,
“Even the GH¢380 they can’t afford and today you can see that GH¢765, then people are going to die. When you look at the situation even for Korle Bu to do some subsidy on this dialysis is possible because patients cannot pay even GH¢380.”
Another person said, “I got alarmed by that particular notice because I know people who go for dialysis sometimes three times a week and they need to do that 12 times in a month. So if a person has to do that 12 times a month and they have to pay in excess of 700 just to do a simple calculation. That is huge.”
“You need to have lots of money to sustain that. So that is Korle Bu signing the death sentences of persons who go to Korle Bu for dialysis.”
Some celebrities have also expressed their opposition to the price rise. Dialysis therapy, according to actor and politician John Dumelo, should be covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make it more affordable.
He stated in a ‘X’ post that “Dialysis treatment should be included under the NHIS.” It is possible.”
Korle-Bu, on the other hand, has revealed that it has met with patients individually to negotiate the rates. After receiving a shipment of renal consumables, the hospital has also started ordinary operations at the dialysis center.
The treatment interruption happened owing to contractual concerns with the supplier, according to Mustapha Salifu, KBTH’s Public Relations Officer (PRO).
“We had some contractual issues with the suppliers of the consumables that we use for renal dialysis and that caused some delay in getting the consumables imported into the country for services to our patients but thankfully last week we took delivery of the consumables and then we are starting to provide the services to patients.”
