According to the Association of Persons Suffering from Renal (Kidney) Failure, often known as Dialysis, 14 of its members have passed away since the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH)’s Renal Unit was closed.
According to the Association, hospital administrators stated that the Unit’s closure was caused by a scarcity of renal consumables and pleaded with the government to assist the Unit.
At a press conference in Accra today, Mr. Micheal Asante, a dialysis patient, made the appeal on behalf of the Association.
“As we speak the Renal Unit has been closed since 22nd May. Unfortunately, during this shutdown period, we have lost about 14 of our friends…,” he told the media.
“… We, therefore, appeal to the government to waive the import duties and other related taxes on dialysis consumables and machines,” he said.
Mr. Asante encouraged the government to include dialysis therapy under the National Health Insurance.
“The government must ultimately revise policies on the NHIS to cover the costs of dialysis or to heavily
subsidise it,” he said.
He also urged religious leaders, business associations, and philanthropists to support the Renal Unit.
“We wish also, to extend our cry for help to the public, philanthropists, churches, business organisations, NGO and indeed all Ghanaians, to come to the aid of renal patients,” he said.
Mr. Asante also bemoaned the rising expense of healthcare, claiming it was driving up the death toll. He said that many people couldn’t afford the GHC765 new price being charged at Korle Bu and that many couldn’t even afford the GHC380 each session.
