The Chief Executive Officer of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, kindly shared his concern regarding the significant increase in kidney-related diseases.
He revealed that a considerable 17% of the Ghanaian population is currently facing kidney problems.
According to him, there are approximately 700 kidney patients recorded in their registry who require constant dialysis treatment.
During an interview on The Point of View, on Citi TV, hosted by Bernard Avle, Dr Ampomah emphasised the significance of early diagnosis and lifestyle modifications. He mentioned that these measures can greatly contribute to the longevity of kidney patients.
In the entire country, during the last registry, it was observed that there were approximately 700 patients who required consistent renal dialysis across the nation. Approximately 17% of the population is affected by kidney problems.
This number is quite significant. The average percentage around the African continent is approximately 15%, while in Ghana, it is around 17%. We currently have a significant portion of our population, approximately 5 million individuals, who are facing various kidney challenges.
However, it is worth noting that if diabetes is detected early, a significant number of individuals can effectively manage the condition through lifestyle modifications, leading to improved chances of survival. Early diagnosis is crucial, therefore screening plays a vital role.
According to the belief, kidneys were created with additional capacity, allowing individuals to donate a kidney and still maintain their health.
It is possible for an individual to sustain their life with just one kidney, half of a kidney, or even a quarter of a kidney. According to his statement, if you are a healthy individual, having half of one kidney should be sufficient to fulfil your needs.
He attributed the new fees to the cedi rate and inflation, which have negatively impacted the prices of consumables, leading to operational losses.
The current situation is that the prices were set a few years ago, so GH¢380 was the most affordable option compared to other facilities. Due to the impact of exchange rate fluctuations and inflation, the value of our service has been gradually eroded.
As a result, we are currently facing challenges in recovering the costs associated with providing the service.
We kindly needed to make some adjustments to the prices in order to reach a break-even point. This is a service that we provide without seeking profit, but rather to cover our costs and ensure its sustainability," clarified the CEO of Korle-Bu.
In discussing the hospital's failure to submit its proposal to Parliament for approval, he expressed his concern regarding the actions of the staff at the departmental level of the hospital. He mentioned that the new fees were implemented without proper approval, which he considered to be premature.
Unfortunately, it appears that the departmental level may have released the figures prematurely to the public. I'm sorry, but I didn't receive it. I was pleasantly surprised by it. He politely mentioned that we are still on GH¢380.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
0 Comments