Parliamentary Health Committee gives a 24-hour ultimatum for the reopening of the Korle-Bu renal unit

The Parliamentary Health Committee has issued a stern 24-hour ultimatum to the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, demanding the swift reopening of the renal unit to outpatients.

This action was taken in response to the closure of the unit, which has had devastating consequences, preventing patients from accessing critical dialysis treatment and resulting in the unfortunate loss of 14 lives.

Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, conveyed his deep concern during a media briefing that followed an inspection of the facility.

He called on the government to urgently implement subsidies for dialysis treatment and criticized the delay in reopening the facility as a display of insensitivity.

Regarding the dialysis issue at Korle-Bu, Akandoh expressed strong sentiments, stating, “With regard to the dialysis issue at Korle-Bu, we believe that the government is being wicked, the government is being uncionable and the government is being insensitive.”

He emphasized the urgency of the situation, given that the renal unit has remained closed to outpatients for the past four to five months.

Akandoh implored the government to take immediate action, utilizing available resources, including COVID levies and the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), to address this national emergency.

He stressed the imperative nature of the situation, asserting, “We must not delay because people need these services day in and day out…it is unthinkable and insensitive of the highest order.”

In conclusion, Akandoh left no room for ambiguity, demanding the reopening of the renal unit at Korle-Bu within the next 24 hours.

This ultimatum serves as a call to action, urging the authorities to prioritize the well-being and lives of patients in need of dialysis treatment.