Following the outrageous charges by Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in fees charged to persons suffering from kidney disease for dialysis, the Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has asked the management of the hospital to refund all monies charged after the new increment.
The disgruntled legislator has consequently requested that the hospital reimburse the disparity in fees imposed on individuals afflicted with kidney disease for dialysis. He asserted that the sum of GHC765.42 levied for the service, rather than GHC350.00, lacks the approval of Parliament.
“Parliament was never informed about any intended price increase in the cost of dialysis at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. We only learnt of it just 3 days ago, through the media that Korle-Bu is charging GHC765.42p instead of GHC 350.00, which was strange,” he stated.
During an appearance on the afternoon political program “Pae Mu Ka” on Onua TV/FM, the esteemed Ranking Member of Parliament’s Select Committee on Health expressed the view that the management should consider either providing a cash refund or permitting individuals to utilize the remaining balance during subsequent visits.
He noted that “this increment comes as a shock to us because we know government grants the hospital tax reliefs and exemptions for the pieces of machinery they import for such diseases, but we were just told the government has taken away all these incentives, making it more costly to import such pieces of machinery into the country. What they did is illegal. Parliament was never informed so that makes the monies they took illegal.”
Mr. Akandoh provided an explanation that the Hospital was required to follow a specific procedure in order to propose an increase in the cost of renal dialysis. This involved submitting a proposal through the sector minister, which would then be forwarded to the Minister of Finance and subsequently presented to Parliament for pre-laying.
Only after this process would officials be invited by Parliament to express their intention for the increase and provide reasons for it. On September 26, 2023, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) implemented an adjustment in the pricing of renal dialysis services, raising the fee from GHS¢350 to GHS¢765.42. This increase has sparked significant public outcry, with patients and members of the community expressing concerns over the affordability of the new fee.
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