Former Minister for Science Environment and Technology, Professor Frimpong Boateng, has endorsed the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s recent decision to increase the price of dialysis treatment.
Although the price hike initially received public criticism, it has since been reversed.
At the launch of the hospital’s 100th-anniversary celebration, the former CEO of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Frimpong Boateng endorsed the hospital’s decision to raise dialysis charges to GHS 760, which according to him, was necessitated by the high cost of essential medical equipment.
“It is justified. I set up the renal dialysis unit here in Korle Bu for chronic dialysis. The inputs are very expensive. I mean if it costs about over GHS 1,000 to render the service, you cannot charge patients GHS 380 or GHS 400.”
Prof. Frimpong Boateng
While he justified the price hike, he admitted that most patients could not bear the entire cost alone.
“But I must admit that most Ghanaians cannot afford it but somebody has to pay for it. It is not the fault of the hospital. They’re not going to make a profit out of it so if they spend GHS 1000, it’s not possible for sustainable growth of the department to charge GHS 300.
“So there must be serious discussion as to how [to pay]. The taxes on the input are decreased or are waived or the government should subsidize the dialysis or corporate bodies, Ghanaians may help the hospital and the patients.”
Prof. Frimpong Boateng
Professor Frimpong Boateng is a renowned physician and cardiothoracic surgeon known for founding the National Cardio-Thoracic Center in Accra.
The Korle Bu teaching Hospital faced criticism for doubling the renal dialysis fees sparing heed to debate on healthcare accessibility.
Meanwhile, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has launched its centenary anniversary celebration aiming to transform the facility into a world-class hospital in West Africa.
CEO of the hospital, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, called on corporate organizations to adopt a ward and offer essential support.
“There’s also room for individuals and corporate citizens to also come on board to support Korle Bu. And that’s why we came out with the 100 Ways to Celebrate 100 Years program, where one of the key you know activities is to adopt a ward or project campaign so that somebody, or other well-endowed individuals or corporate entities can adopt a particular ward and get it renovated or equipped. You know, so that it brings it up to a standard.”
Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah
He further stressed on the capacity of the hospital and its excellence service delivery.
“I mean, look at the number of patients we see every day. We see between 1,500 and 2,500 patients every single day. We admit between 150 and 250 in-patients every single day now. All these patients wouldn’t be coming to us in their numbers if the hospital was not delivering something that they needed.”
Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah
Additionally, Deputy Minister for Health, Madam Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah, reassured the Hospital and stakeholders of the government’s support.
“Today, we are in an era of the internet of things with a massive deployment of Information Technology and artificial intelligence. In our health [sector], the government of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is committed to providing Korle Bu with new infrastructure and equipment to make it stay ahead of the competition not only in Ghana but within the West African sub-region.
“As a testimony to this, several infrastructure projects are currently ongoing in Korle Bu; already completed are the reconstructed fever units and the new Infectious Disease Center which were initiated during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another project that was on the drawing board since s 2005 is the 110-bed Urology Andrology Center of Excellence which is due to be completed before the end of December this year.”
madam Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah
According to the Minister, the hospital has planned various activities throughout the year to improve infrastructure and customer service through prioritizing patient satisfaction.
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