The Minority Caucus in Parliament has condemned the decision of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to keep its Renal Unit closed since May 2023, labeling it as "heartless and extremely cruel." Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minority's health spokesperson and MP for Juaboso, has criticized this move, deeming it insensitive and reflective of the incompetence of those overseeing the country's healthcare sector. During an interview with the media, Mr.

0

Akandoh expressed his frustration, stating that the Health Minister had failed to fulfill his commitment to reopen the unit during a courtesy call made by the Minority. He emphasized that the Caucus will persist in its efforts until the unit is accessible to the public again.

1

“It is unconscionable and sheer wickedness for any government in the world to close a sensitive unit like the renal unit in a health facility for more than four to five months to OPD and you would agree with me how this thing started.

2

It started with an increase in the cost of dialysis, and we came in to tell them [Korle-Bu] that irrespective of the prevailing circumstances, you cannot sit in your office and increase prices, it must be subjected to the Fees and Charges Act of the country.

3

So we went to Korle-Bu to meet the management, and we all agreed it was not the right thing to do so we then went to the Minister of Health and said whatever it takes to reopen the renal unit, we must do, and the Minister assured us that the unit will be reopened as soon as possible, and it is yet to reopen after one week.

4

” “If as a country, we do not have the resources to take care of less than 300 renal patients at Korle-Bu, then we have no business in government. That a government cannot look for resources to take care of renal patients is sheer wickedness. We must find money to reopen the unit and until the unit is reopened, we will not rest.” Korle-Bu faced public backlash when it raised its renal dialysis costs from GHS¢380 to GHS¢765.

5

42, triggering widespread disapproval of the increase. Affected patients revealed that the Renal Unit at the facility had been closed since May 2023.

6