The Renal Unit at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has been closed for more than a week, leaving many patients who rely on life-sustaining dialysis treatments in a state of distress and uncertainty.
Frustrated patients have voiced concerns over the silence from hospital authorities, noting that no official explanation has been provided for the sudden shutdown. The lack of communication has heightened fears about the potential health risks associated with delayed or missed treatments.
Kojo Baffour Ahenkora, spokesperson for the Renal Patients Association, confirmed the continued closure and lamented the toll on patients. According to him, members are experiencing increased anxiety, deteriorating health, and mounting complications due to the disruption of their treatment schedules.
“Some of my patients are complaining that they cannot sleep, they are having fatigue at night, they cannot eat, and they are vomiting. You can just imagine the complaints that keep coming. It is not good for us, but what can we do? Either you look for money and go to a private facility, or there, the least you can pay is GHS 700. Korle-Bu is a bit cheaper, and so when something like this happens, they should communicate with us. We are an association. Call us to the table, sit us down, this is the challenge that we have and that we are working on it, so that we will go and prepare ourselves, look for money and take care of ourselves,” he said.
In response to growing pressure, the Public Relations Officer of the hospital is currently in discussions with hospital management to address the issue and respond to the mounting concerns from patients and their families.
The closure of the Renal Unit has led to significant financial strain for outpatients, many of whom have been forced to seek treatment at private facilities, an option that comes with steep costs. The NHIA promised to provide eight free dialysis sessions per month to kidney patients under the age of 18 and over the age of 60 beginning Saturday, June 1, and ending December 2024.
The lack of communication and transparency from hospital authorities has left patients feeling abandoned and helpless. Many are calling for immediate action to reopen the Renal Unit and ensure that such disruptions do not occur in the future.
The Ministry of Health has been urged to intervene and provide clear communication to patients regarding the status of the Renal Unit and the steps being taken to address the current crisis.
As the situation continues to unfold, the hope is that swift and decisive action will be taken to restore vital dialysis services at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and alleviate the suffering of patients in need.
