The Renal Patients Association of Ghana is calling on the government to settle the GH¢4 million debt owed by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to suppliers of dialysis consumables.
This debt has led to the closure of the unit to outpatients, and regrettably, 19 outpatients from the renal unit have lost their lives since the closure in May 2023. Kojo Ahenkorah, the association’s spokesperson, emphasized the critical need to clear this debt to prevent further closures of the renal unit.
He mentioned that they are not seeking a fight with the government but are appealing for assistance, as the ongoing closure is causing suffering and loss of lives.
Ahenkorah also shared his personal experience of being unable to afford dialysis at a private facility due to the unit’s closure at Korle-Bu.
In the meantime, the outpatient department of the hospital’s Renal Dialysis Unit reopened on November 6, after being closed to outpatients since May 22, 2023, with a partial reopening on September 27.
The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, directed the hospital’s management to immediately reopen the unit last Thursday.
