The Member of Parliament for Juaboso and Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Parliament, Honorable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has fiercely criticized the government’s perceived mishandling of the ongoing crisis at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s Renal Dialysis Unit, calling for urgent and effective interventions to save lives.

The National Democratic Congress legislator, in a scathing critique, expressed deep concern over the dire situation at the Renal Dialysis Unit, underscoring the critical need for a more responsive approach to healthcare management.

Hon. Akandoh did not hold back in his condemnation of the government’s overall approach to healthcare, accusing the current administration of prioritizing political expediency over the well-being of the populace.

“The government doesn’t think about the people of this country. And sometimes it’s quite disheartening that they also rule with a lot of lies… We have put forward very workable proposals for some time now. But I can’t simply understand why some of these things persistently do happen”.
Honorable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Member of Parliament for Juaboso and Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Parliament

He lamented, expressing frustration at the government’s failure to implement solutions that could have prevented the current crisis.

Government Delays to Procure Health Equipment

Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh did not mince words in his critique of the government’s delays in procurement processes.

He asserted that the government’s actions, or lack thereof, demonstrate a worrying level of irresponsibility, particularly given the life-and-death nature of the situation.

“It is only an irresponsible person who will do this… These are about the lives of the people,” he stated, highlighting the urgent need for a more proactive and accountable approach to healthcare.

Moreover, the Juaboso MP stressed the importance of establishing a threshold or limit to gauge stock depletion in critical healthcare units like the Renal Dialysis Unit.

This, he argued, would allow for timely and efficient procurement of supplies, thereby preventing the kind of crisis currently being witnessed at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

“You don’t wait till you run out completely of your consumables. You always have to have a limit below which you will not, I mean, below which you will have to do your order. You must have projections”.
Honorable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Member of Parliament for Juaboso and Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Parliament

Hon. Akandoh attributed the closure of the Renal Dialysis Unit to the government’s failure to make timely payments, hinting at a deeper financial crisis within the health sector.

“Maybe there’s a reason. Whenever you ask them, because of self-saving mechanisms, they will say they haven’t paid. In reality, they may not have the money,” he said, suggesting that the government’s financial mismanagement is at the root of the current crisis.

Dedicated Renal and Cancer Fund in NDC Manifesto

In a bid to offer a long-term solution to such issues, the Minority Caucus in Parliament Spokesperson on Health, Hon. Akandoh revealed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would include the establishment of a dedicated Renal and Cancer Fund in its upcoming campaign manifesto.

This fund, he assured, would be a game-changer, providing dedicated resources for the treatment of renal and cancer patients across the country.

“So we are going to see the scrapping of taxes, the waiver of taxes on these consumables. I am very, very sure and clear in my mind this is going to happen”.
Honorable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Member of Parliament for Juaboso and Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Parliament

He contended that the move by the opposition party would alleviate the financial burden on both the hospitals and the patients who rely on these critical services.

Hon. Akandoh’s remarks follow reports that the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Renal and Dialysis Unit is facing severe operational challenges due to government-owed payments and delay in clearing essential dialysis consumables stuck at the Tema Port.

As the NDC prepares to launch its campaign manifesto on Saturday, the inclusion of the Renal and Cancer Fund is expected to be a key highlight, offering a glimmer of hope to the many Ghanaians who depend on these critical healthcare services.

The Renal Patients Association has already expressed scepticism about the government’s ability to keep the Korle-Bu Renal Unit fully operational, making Hon. Akandoh’s assurances all the more significant.