GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, the President’s Health Advisor, has urged pharmaceutical firms in Ghana to engage in the production of dialysis supplies. He believes this move could lead to a reduction in the cost of these items, ultimately lowering dialysis fees. This proposal comes amid a heated discussion about dialysis treatment expenses, particularly following the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s attempt to implement a 100% price hike for dialysis services.
In an interview with Citi News, Dr. Nsiah Asare encouraged pharmaceutical companies to consider manufacturing consumables needed for dialysis. He emphasized that many essential items for haemodialysis are currently imported and disposable, leading to increased costs due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
The call for local production of these supplies aims to mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations on dialysis costs. Ghanaians, especially dialysis patients, expressed their dissatisfaction when the Renal Dialysis Unit at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital announced a price increase from GH¢380 to GHS¢765.42 per dialysis session on September 27. The Minority Caucus in Parliament strongly criticized this hike, deeming it illegal and outrageous, and demanded an immediate reversal.
