WOES OF KIDNEY PATIENTS DEEPEN

…As Parliament Approves Cost of Dialysis Treatment By GH₵111

The woes of persons suffering from kidney failure appear not to be over, following reports of upward adjustment of the cost of treatment by GH₵111,at various government health facilities.

The latest increment, The Anchor, gathered took effect since last week Friday at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to the shock of many patients, who are struggling to afford the prevailing cost of treatment.

This development, came as a big surprise to many, particularly due to the promise made by some parliamentarians to the patients sometime last year that, parliament will take a closer look at the proposed increment in the interest of those receiving the treatment.

Having left disappointed, the patients are pleading with Parliament, to rescind their decision for approval of the increment.

According to them, they are struggling with the existing fee of GH₵380, thus increasing it to GH₵491, is something that is going to be a huge challenge on their finances.

Even though, this is far less than the proposed GH₵765.42, by the Hospital last year, the patients are still unhappy and are already skipping treatments which they are to do 3-5 hours, 3 times a week.

Already, The Anchor gathered many of them are unable to pay for the number of times they have to go for sessions in a week and adding on is going to worsen their plight.

They want Members of Parliament (MPs) to suspend the latest increment for the time being, until suggestions to have it absolved by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is looked at.

President of the Dialysis Patients Association, Kojo Bafour Ahenkora, lamented that the increment could have been postponed until efforts to include dialysis treatment costs under the National Health Insurance Scheme, were finalized.

He urged authorities to reconsider the decision, stating, “If it’s Parliament that did this, we beg them to revisit the issues and do something about it.”

The price hike, from GH₵380 to GH₵491, has rendered the treatment unaffordable for many, plunging them into a desperate situation.

These patients, already grappling with the challenges of managing their health conditions, now find themselves in an impossible dilemma, if the new charge is allowed to stand.

For these patients, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

According to Abigail Ohenewaa Mintah, a kidney patient, the distressing aspect of the situation lies in the fact that, the cost hike was approved by Parliament.

She expressed her frustration, stating, “I skipped my session as a result of the price increase. I can’t eat although I am hungry, and it is affecting me a lot because I don’t want to be too heavy.”

Kwaku Kwarteng, another patient, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Now you are even afraid to drink water or eat because you don’t know where you are going to get money for the dialysis.”

The issue of dialysis is coming again after the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, increased treatment to GH¢765.42, without approval from Parliament last year.

The increment was necessitated by a debt of over GHc4million. But the Hospital was forced to withdraw, after an uproar and directive by Parliament to do so.

Many, including the then boss of the NHIS, suggested that the treatment can be added to the Scheme to lessen the burden on patients.

At the moment, this paper cannot tell what has become of that discussion, following the new fee.

Source: Anchorghana.com