The Korle-Bu dialysis unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has been closed forcing kidney failure patients to seek health care at private facilities.

According to a report by 3news.com, the closure has resulted in the deaths of three kidney patients over a period of 2 weeks, as the reasons for the closure are still unknown.

Speaking on the matter, the President of the Kidney Patients Association, Baffour Ahenkorah lamented over non-functioning equipment at the renal unit.

Meanwhile, the Health Committee of Parliament has condemned the closure.

In an interview with Citi News, Alexander Roosevelt, the Member of Parliament for Central Tongu and a member of the Health Committee, expressed disappointment over the lives put at risk due to the closure of the facility.

Additionally, he disclosed how the National Insurance Authority requested an amount of GH¢2million to support kidney patients under 18 years and above 60 years.

“The National Insurance Authority appeared before our committee requesting an amount of 2 million cedis for payment of the bills of under 18 and above 60 people who have these conditions. And they also came out boldly a few months or weeks ago emphasising that they had released an amount of 2 million Ghana cedis and there was going to be an additional amount of 2 million that would be given to the Korle Bu hospital to settle the bills of people with renal cases.

“I am just surprised that I’m being told that the setup has been closed down mainly because they do not have medical supplies.

“I am just surprised. So does this mean that what the National Health Insurance Authority was telling us was just fiction? Does it mean that they were not telling us the truth? Whilst the presidential candidate of the NPP continues going on promising heaven.

“Is this where Ghana has reached? It’s a very serious situation. It’s something that one cannot fathom and I can understand. How can we joke with the health of our own people?” he is quoted as saying by citinewsroom.com.

MAG/NOQ