Korle-Bu CEO, Management Exposed!

…Records Reveal Hospital Already Charging New Fees For Dialysis 

Details have emerged that the management of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital had already begun charging kidney patients the new cost for dialysis treatment, contrary to earlier denials by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, and subsequent statement that the increment was just a mere proposal.

Records available to The Anchor reveal that the new price, as announced last week through a public notice, was being implemented a week ago, since Monday, September 25, as renal patients who visited the facility last week for treatment had all paid the new fee.

Official receipts sighted and available to this paper indicate, as at the time the management issued the statement on Wednesday, September 27, claiming the new price was yet to be approved, the Renal Dialysis Unit (RDU)was still charging patients, with impunity.

Prior to statement, the CEO was categorical that the proposal was yet to go through modalities for approval and therefore yet to be implemented.

But incontrovertible evidence from the hospital showed, the revered plastic surgeon was not telling the truth, when he spoke on Joy News.

Many have argued that, the spirited denial by the CEO, given the turn of events, showed that the head of the hospital was either not in-charge and abreast with affairs, or that the management was simply being dishonest to the public with the truth.

According to sources, there is a serious power-play and internal wrangling ongoing at the nation’s premier hospital due to the alleged management style of those at the top.

Insiders told The Anchor, the Chief Executive Officer, in particular, is not helping matters at the helm of affairs in the management of the hospital, leaving lots of issues in disarray.

The nation’s premier hospital last week, through a notice, increased the cost of dialysis treatment from GH₵380 to GH₵765.42 per session without approval by parliament.

The increment was met with widespread agitation and condemnation by the general public as exorbitant, with many asking why the treatment is still not included in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

But in the heat of the massive public backlash, the hospital quickly made a U-turn, claiming the new fee was just a proposal, and it has to be sent to Parliament through the Ministry of Health for approval before its implementation.

In a statement issued by the management, dated September 27, the hospital said, “This is to inform the general public and our patients that a price review proposal presented by the Renal Dialysis Unit is yet to receive consideration and approval by Management of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.”

According to the management, “Any proposed fee will be forwarded to Parliament through the Ministry of Health for approval. It is only after the due parliamentary approval that any revised fees will be implemented.”

It concluded that, “Until the Parliamentary approval is granted, the old price will be maintained for our dialysis services.”

But sources told The Anchor, the latest controversy regarding the cost of dialysis increment and the seeming dishonesty demonstrated by the management are just a tip of the iceberg, as several issues have been raging at the hospital since the current CEO assumed office in 2020.

Death warrant

Many, especially patients, are reeling and devastated, following the announcement days ago.

They say the astronomical increment will mean that they are signing up their death warrant, because they cannot afford the treatment any longer, as most of these patients are unable to work any longer due to their condition.

But for the latest development, dialysis patients would have been coughing up GH₵2, 296.26 a week and GH₵9, 185.04 a month, to receive their treatment.

This is aside from the routine drugs, labs, transport to the centre, cost of the femoral/neckline, regular admissions and others, covering just the sickness alone.

It is unclear, how much is being charged at the private hospitals at the moment, because, according to reports, Korle-Bu’s charge, until the recent increment, was the cheapest one can get.

But The Anchor’s monitoring of the situation has revealed that, while the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital was charging GH₵380, the private hospitals were previously charging GH₵550 per session.

According to reports, in Ghana, 10 percent of out-patient department (OPD) cases are kidney failures.

Source:Anchorghana.com