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Renal patients at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital are planning to picket at the Renal Unit on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, in protest over the authorities’ failure to release essential medical supplies currently held at the port.
The shortage of these critical consumables has led to the unit’s closure for the past three weeks, leaving patients without access to necessary dialysis treatments. Korle Bu’s Public Relations Officer, Mustapha Salifu, confirmed that the closure was due to the shortage but reassured that efforts are underway to clear the supplies and resume outpatient dialysis services.
However, the spokesperson for the Renal Patients Association, Kojo Baffour Ahenkorah, expressed deep frustration, accusing the government of being too slow in addressing the issue. He emphasized that the delay is endangering patients’ lives.
In an interview with Channel One News, Mr. Ahenkorah highlighted the severe financial strain on patients, who are forced to pay GH¢800 per session for private dialysis—a cost that many simply cannot afford. He pointed out, “It’s very expensive, very expensive. This morning, 800 Ghana cedis for a session. Most of us are supposed to do it twice or three times a week. Where are we going to get the money from? It’s only the government sector or Korle Bu that makes 400 cedis, which is not even cheap, almost close to 500 in a session.”
The patients are urgently calling on the government, particularly the Minister of Finance and the GRA boss, to expedite the release of the necessary supplies from Tema Harbour. They have vowed to remain at the hospital until their demands are met.
Mr. Ahenkorah made a direct plea to the authorities: “Please, Dr. Okoe Boye, Minister of Finance, and GRA boss, we beg them. The consumables are in the country, which is why they were able to release the 20-footer container which also contains part of the consumables that we need. But the main one that we need at the cabin where we are standing right now is the one at the port, so we beg them. Whatever the case, we beg them. If not, then by Wednesday, we are picketing here. All the Renal Dialysis patients are coming to sleep here until we receive the consumables from Tema Port because we cannot keep on going through this thing.”
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