The Renal Patients Association at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has issued a strong ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate release of vital dialysis consumables currently held at the Tema Port.
The association, representing patients who depend on these supplies for life-saving treatments, has announced plans to picket at the renal unit on Wednesday, August 21, if their demands are not met.
Kojo Baffour Ahenkora, spokesperson for the association, voiced the deep frustration and anxiety among patients during an interview with Accra-based Channel One TV.
He emphasised that the shortage of these essential supplies has significantly increased the cost of dialysis, pushing many patients to the brink of financial ruin.
“It’s incredibly expensive—Ghc800 per session. Most of us require treatment two or three times a week. Where are we supposed to find the money? Even at Korle Bu, where the cost is slightly lower at GHC400 per session, it’s still unaffordable for many,” Ahenkora explained.
Although a portion of the dialysis supplies has been released, the most critical components remain stuck at the port. Ahenkora appealed to government officials, including Health Minister Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, the Finance Ministry, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), to take immediate action.
“The consumables are in the country, which is why they could release the 20-footer container with some of the supplies. But the main batch we urgently need is still at the port. We are pleading with the authorities to help us. We’re desperate,” he said.
The situation has reached a boiling point, with the association warning that if the supplies are not cleared by Wednesday, patients will have no choice but to stage a protest. “We will picket here at the renal unit until the consumables are released. We cannot continue to endure this suffering,” Ahenkora declared.
The association’s threat highlights the severe impact of the delays on patients’ lives and underscores the critical need for swift government intervention to prevent further hardship.