Josiah
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has acquired 30 additional dialysis machines for the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, aiming to enhance service delivery and prevent future shortages.
These new machines, equipped with consumables that can last for a year, will be deployed to the hospital’s new Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence and are expected to be operational by the end of the year. Mustapha Salifu, Head of Public Relations at the hospital, revealed in an interview with Daily Graphic that the machines were secured through the initiative of the Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye.
Salifu highlighted that these machines offer improved cost efficiency by allowing the hospital to source essential consumables from the open market at competitive prices, unlike the current machines, which require specific orders from manufacturers.
Regarding the recent temporary closure of the Renal Dialysis Unit due to a shortage of consumables, Salifu stated that the hospital had successfully secured a significant quantity of essential supplies, which are currently being processed for clearance at Tema Port. He announced that dialysis services for inpatients had already resumed, with five patients receiving treatment as of yesterday, and outpatient services are expected to recommence by tomorrow.
“The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Ghana Supply Company are providing vital support to expedite this clearance on an emergency basis to ensure that we continue to deliver top-notch care to our valued patients. We anticipate that the outpatient section of our Dialysis Centre will return to full operations by Wednesday,” Salifu said.
Explaining the reasons behind the shutdown, Salifu noted that procedural and documentation issues on the part of the shipping line had delayed the clearance of consumables, which were originally expected to be cleared two weeks ago. During this period, the hospital temporarily shifted dialysis operations and referred some patients to the National Cardiothoracic Centre to minimize disruption.
“We sincerely apologize to our patients and clients for any inconvenience this situation may have caused and wish to express gratitude for their restraint and understanding,” he said, extending thanks to the Minister of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the GRA for their assistance in resolving the issue.
In response to the reopening of the Renal Dialysis Unit, Baffour Kojo Ahenkorah, President of the Renal Patient Association of Ghana, expressed relief, noting that patients no longer needed to seek expensive treatment at private facilities, where costs range from GH¢600 to GH¢1,000 per session, excluding medication and injections. He emphasized that Korle Bu offers quality treatment at a more affordable rate of GH¢491 per session.
“The kind of services Korle Bu provides cannot be compared to some private facilities. That is why when the unit is shut down, we are worried,” Ahenkorah said, urging the hospital to find a lasting solution to the issue of consumable shortages, given the daily need for dialysis treatments.
Source:Omanghana.com
