The alarming state of kidney treatment in Ghana has been highlighted by Dr Elliot Koranteng Tannor, a Nephrologist at KATH.
He has revealed that one in every three kidney patients at the hospital is losing their life, largely due to the high cost of dialysis treatment. This grim reality has led to an unprecedented rise in mortality rates among the kidney patient population at KATH.
The cost of dialysis treatment is so high that many patients can only afford to have it once or twice a week, instead of the ideal three times. This shortfall in treatment is directly contributing to the increase in patient deaths.
In a recent discussion with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, Dr Tannor expressed deep concern over the situation. He stated that the government needs to intervene urgently to make treatment more affordable and save lives.
Meanwhile, the management at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra is reportedly planning to increase the cost of dialysis per session from GHC380 to GHC765. This proposal, which is still awaiting parliamentary approval, is due to increased taxes on consumables.
Dr Tannor fears that if this increase is approved, it will lead to even more patients being unable to afford their dialysis treatment, resulting in an even higher death rate.
He has stressed that most patients are already struggling to cope with the current cost and that any increase would be catastrophic.
He said, “It is really sad to gape at people die on dialysis on daily basis,” expressing his sorrow at the ongoing tragedy.
SOURCE: Senali News Ghana
