Josiah
Renal patients at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital are planning to picket at the Renal Unit on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, to protest the authorities’ failure to clear essential consumables currently stuck at the port. The ongoing shortage of these crucial supplies has forced the unit to close for the past three weeks, leaving patients without necessary medical care.
Korle Bu’s Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Salifu, acknowledged that the closure was due to the shortage but assured that efforts are underway to clear the consumables and resume outpatient dialysis treatments.
However, Kojo Baffour Ahenkora, spokesperson for the Renal Patients Association, expressed frustration, accusing the government of not acting with the urgency required to resolve the issue, which he says is endangering patients’ lives. Speaking to Channel One News, Mr. Ahenkora highlighted the financial strain on patients, who are now forced to pay GH¢800 per session for private dialysis, a cost that many cannot afford.
The patients are demanding immediate intervention from the government, specifically calling on the Minister of Finance and the GRA boss to expedite the release of the essential supplies from Tema Harbour. They have vowed to picket and remain at the hospital until their demands are met.
“It’s very expensive, extremely expensive. This morning, it cost 800 Ghana cedis for one session. Most of us need dialysis two or three times a week. Where are we supposed to get that kind of money? Even in the government sector, Korle Bu charges around 400 cedis per session, which isn’t cheap—almost 500 cedis,” he said.
“We are pleading with Dr. Okoe Boye, the Minister of Finance, and the GRA boss to intervene. The consumables are in the country, which allowed them to release a 20-foot container containing some of the supplies we need. But the main supplies we urgently need are still at the port. We are begging them—whatever it takes, we need their help. If not, we will start picketing on Wednesday.”
“All the renal dialysis patients will come here and stay until the consumables are released from Tema Port because we cannot continue enduring this situation,” he concluded.
