Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, Chief Executive Officer of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, has clarified the circumstances leading to the recent closure of the hospital’s renal unit.
The closure, which occurred several weeks ago, was due to a shortage of critical supplies required for the effective operation of the unit.
After resolving the supply shortage, the hospital has reopened its outpatient renal dialysis unit, which had been closed for three weeks.
Renal patients, who had planned to picket on August 21 in protest of the shortage that deprived them of essential medical care, were met with the timely delivery of necessary supplies, allowing the hospital to resume dialysis sessions that same day.
In an interview on “The Point of View” on Channel One TV, Dr. Ampomah elaborated on the factors contributing to the delay in receiving the supplies.
He noted that during the shortage, the hospital prioritized emergency and in-patient cases while temporarily suspending outpatient dialysis services, advising patients to seek treatment at alternative facilities.
He explained that the hospital had settled its obligations with the supplier and had been expecting the delivery of consumables since March.
However, global shipping delays, including issues related to the Suez Canal, caused significant delays. The supplies eventually arrived in early July, but further delays in clearing the paperwork prolonged the closure of the unit.
During the shortage, the hospital could only handle emergency cases, leaving outpatients to seek dialysis at other facilities. Despite these alternatives, many patients preferred Korle-Bu for its affordable prices.
Dr. Ampomah acknowledged the patients’ frustrations, emphasizing that the primary issue was not the lack of available dialysis options but the affordability of services at Korle-Bu, which made it the preferred choice for many.
