The Renal Dialysis Unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has once again faced financial strain, accumulating a debt of GH₵2 million for treating kidney patients. This debt comes just three months after the government settled an initial debt of GH₵4 million incurred by the unit.
According to Dr. Owusu Sekyere, the Director of Medical Affairs at KBTH, the facility accrues debt because renal patients only pay half of the dialysis treatment cost, leaving a significant portion uncovered. He highlighted that the actual cost of performing one dialysis session at KBTH exceeds GH₵720, while patients only pay GH₵380, resulting in a shortfall that contributes to the accumulated debt.
Dr Sekyere emphasized the need to address the disparity in treatment costs and expressed hope that Parliament would approve the proposed fees to alleviate the financial burden on the unit.
Meanwhile, Baafour Kojo Ahenkora, President of the Renal Patients Association of Ghana, shared his concerns about the affordability of dialysis treatment. Despite the current rate of GH₵380 per session, he noted that some members still struggle to afford the cost, highlighting the potential dire consequences if prices were to increase further.
Ahenkora urged authorities to consider the financial challenges faced by renal patients and emphasized the critical importance of maintaining affordable dialysis services to prevent loss of life due to financial constraints.