19 people died because Renal Unit at Korle Bu was closed over GH¢400m debt – Randy Abbey fumes

Renowned broadcaster Dr Randy Abbey has slammed the government for the closure of the Renal Dialysis Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), over GH¢400 million debts.

Speaking on his Good Morning Ghana programme, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, Dr Abbey could not believe that the Renal Unit which takes care of Ghanaians who are critically ill would close down just because of GH¢400 million.

“19 people are reported to have died because the Renal Unit at Korle Bu was closed down over GH¢400 million under recoveries. GH¢400 million! GH¢400 million! not dollars and 19 people have lost their lives.

“And the thing has to be closed and talk and talk, it is supposed to have been opened yesterday or so, 19 people have died,” he said.

He added, “And people have their jobs, people are able to sleep freely, people are even able to speak to us about elections 14 months away when issues about a GH¢400 million under recovery has led to the closer of the Renal Unit and 19 people have lost their lives,” he said.

Watch his remarks in the video below:

Backgroud:

The management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) announced that it has reopened its Renal Dialysis Unit to outpatients, from Monday, November 6, 2023.

In a statement sighted by GhanaWeb, the management indicated that the decision was retaken to reopen the unit after an engagement with the Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.

It added that it is working closely with the Health Ministry to repay its debts which are to the tune of GH¢400 million.

The Parliament of Ghana summoned the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, to provide explanations regarding the closure of the Renal Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The minister's appearance before parliament is scheduled for Thursday, November 9, 2023.

During the parliamentary session on November 9, the minister will be expected to shed light on the reasons behind the closure and outline the government's measures to address the challenges that led to it, as well as the concerning increases in kidney-related diseases.

The call for the minister to be summoned came from Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, after expressing concerns about the situation.

"The reopening of the outpatient department cannot continue to be in abeyance, and even more distressing is the statement from the Renal Patients Association that since the closure of the outpatient department of the renal unit in May, more than 19 of its members have died," he said.

He emphasized that the tragic loss of lives underscores the urgency of the matter and the need for immediate intervention.

Akandoh also urged the health minister to address the issue of the approved GH¢380 fee for kidney treatment, which has not been reinstated since the outpatient department's closure.

The directive for the minister's appearance was issued by the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, after a unanimous agreement from the MPs.

"The Minister for Health is to appear before us on Thursday, November 9, to come and brief us on the closure of the Renal Unit outpatient department and the upsurge of kidney-related problems in Ghana. He should also come and tell us if the NHIS issue can also be captured in relation to kidney treatment," Asiamah said.

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Ghana’s leading digital news platform, GhanaWeb, in conjunction with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, is embarking on an aggressive campaign which is geared towards ensuring that parliament passes comprehensive legislation to guide organ harvesting, organ donation, and organ transplantation in the country.