Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has expressed the need for parliament to summon the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, to appear before it on Thursday, November 9, 2023, to justify the closure of the Renal Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

According to him, the reopening of the outpatient department cannot continue to be in abeyance.

He noted that even more distressing is the statement from the Renal Patients Association that since the closure of the outpatient department of the renal unit in May, more than 19 of its members have died.

Among other things, the health minister is also expected to explain measures taken by the government to address the challenges that led to its closure and the surge in cases of kidney-related diseases.

“The tragic loss of life emphasizes the urgency of the matter and the necessity for immediate intervention.”
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh

Furthermore, Mr Akandoh emphasized the need for the minister to address the issue of the approved GH¢380 fee charge for kidney treatment, which has not been reinstated since the outpatient department was closed.

Affirming the summoning of the health minister, second deputy speaker of parliament, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, issued the directive after the MPs unanimously agreed for the minister to make an appearance before the House.

“The Minister for Health is to appear before us on Thursday, November 9, to come and brief us on the closure of the Renal Unit outpatient department and the upsurge of kidney-related problems in Ghana. He should also come and tell us if the NHIS issue can also be captured in relation to kidney treatment.”
Andrew Amoako Asiamah

Health minister directs opening of renal dialysis unit

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has directed the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to immediately reopen the Renal Dialysis Unit for outpatient services.

Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, Isaac Baah Ofei, confirmed that the Minister of Health has directed the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to immediately reopen the Unit for outpatient services.

“The Minister has directed the Chief Executive Officer of Korle-Bu to as a matter of urgency, see to the opening of the centre and so he directed as well that while it is opened, Korle-Bu should issue a statement for the general public to know exactly what is going on and when they can get access to the place.”
Isaac Baah Ofei

The Unit was closed in May 2023 to outpatient services following what management said was a result of the high cost of dialysis consumables.

Following this, the ranking member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, expressed worry about the continued closure of the Renal Unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to outpatients.

Speaking to the media after the Parliamentary Health Committee inspected the Renal Unit of KBTH on October 16, 2023, Mr Akandoh stated that there was the need to ensure that the renal unit was reopened to outpatients within the next 24-hours.

He emphasized that there should not be a delay in reopening the unit because outpatients need the services to be able to live.

Subsequently, Mr Akandoh called on the government to speedily implement the necessary subsidies for dialysis treatment and criticized the delay in reopening the facility as insensitive.