Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is racing against time to secure the release of critical dialysis consumables stranded at the Tema Port.
This move follows mounting anger and frustration from the Renal Patients Association, who have vowed to stage a protest at the hospital’s Renal Unit on Wednesday, August 21, if the issue remains unresolved.
These supplies are vital for the survival of renal patients, who are currently enduring exorbitant treatment costs due to the shortage.
Speaking on the matter, the Association’s spokesperson, Kojo Baffour Ahenkora, shed light on the dire financial strain faced by patients. “It’s very expensive, very expensive. This morning, I paid GH₵800 for a session.
Most of us are supposed to do it twice or three times a week. Where are we going to get the money from? It’s only the government sector or Korle Bu that takes GH₵400 which is not even cheap, almost close to GH₵500 in a session,” Mr. Ahenkora lamented, painting a bleak picture of the situation.
In response to the threat of protests, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Salifu, assured that efforts are being made to clear the consumables.
“We have apologised on several occasions for this challenge and we continue to entreat them that they should exercise restraint and that we have gotten a commitment from the Ministry [of Health] that we will have this thing cleared,” he said, urging patients to maintain their usual cooperation as the hospital works to restore normal operations.
