The NDC Member of Parliament of Joaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has debunked the claims that the parliament of Ghana has approved the new fees for dialysis treatment instituted by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
He made this revelation after the hospital commenced charging new fees for dialysis. The initial cost of the treatment was GH¢380 but it has ballooned to GH¢491.
According to the Renal Patients Association of Ghana, the increments will put a serious financial burden on patients already trying hard to pay the previous bills.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Mr Akandoh, a Ranking Member of the Health Committee of Parliament said the House has not sanctioned the new fees charged by the hospital.
“We never agreed at the committee level that the cost of dialysis must be increased. What happened was that the Ministry of Finance must waive all taxes on the [regent] of dialysis. So, it came to me as a shock when all the media houses were calling to tell me that fees had been increased. I don’t get it.
“Then, when you talk about that they make it sound as though parliament that has done some proposal and has gone ahead to approve it,” he fumed.