The Cape Coast Teaching Hospital is facing a growing crisis in the provision of dialysis services, Dr. Eric Kofi Ngyedu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, has said.
He said with a large percentage of dialysis patients in the country relying on a limited number of facilities, the demand for these services far exceeded capacity.
“We are advocating for increased support and funding to address the financial challenges faced by dialysis patients,” Dr Ngyedu said on Monday during a working visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health to the institution.
The day’s visit was also a mop-up exercise of earlier oversight visits to health facilities in the country by the Committee.
“The cost of dialysis is high, with a significant financial burden on patients and the healthcare system,” he told the Committee.
According to the CEO, the challenges faced by dialysis units were multifaceted.
He cited outdated equipment, high demand, and financial constraints as some of the issues that needed to be addressed. “Some of our equipment is over 40 years old and needs replacement.
“We are working to expand our services, but we need support to make it happen,” the CEO told the Committee.
He added that the financial burden on patients was substantial, with many struggling to access life-saving treatment.
He said, “We are subsidizing dialysis services, but patients still face significant costs.”
“We need to find a way to make these services more affordable and accessible,” he noted.
Despite the challenges, the CEO told the Committee that management was working to find solutions. “We are engaging with stakeholders to secure funding and support for our dialysis unit.
“We believe that with the right resources, we can provide high-quality care to our patients and improve health outcomes,” he said.
As the healthcare community continues to navigate the complexities of dialysis care, one thing is clear: increased support and funding are essential to ensuring the sustainability of these services.
The Committee advocated for a collaboration to address the dialysis crisis not only at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital but in Ghana as a whole.
They called for increased funding, improved infrastructure, and enhanced support for healthcare facilities, as they were essential to ensuring that patients received the care they needed.
“We are advocating for increased support and funding to address the financial challenges faced by dialysis patients.” Dr. Titus Beyuo, a member of the Health Committee, said.
GNA
