Korle Bu blames high taxes, removal of subsidies for 100% hike in dialysis cost

The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has blamed the high cost of taxation for the recent increase in the cost of dialysis.

The hospital increased the cost of dialysis per session for persons with kidney conditions by over 100%.

However, the Public Relations Officer for the hospital, Mustapha Salifu says the institution’s decision to increase the cost of the treatment is influenced by the high cost of taxes.

Speaking to JoyNews, Mr Salifu indicated that the government used to exempt the institution from paying some importation duties and some related taxes.

But as of last year, the hospital’s facilities at the unit are no longer entitled to those benefits.

“Previously some of the variables were actually being taken care of by the state. But now we have had to pay for everything ourselves and all those things are factored into it.

“We used to clear these items, we used to get to tax exemptions when we were clearing these items. But now you have to pay for the import duty and other taxes that are related to it.”

Highlighting the costly nature of the items involved in offering the treatment, he emphasised that should the dialysis unit decide to provide services without increasing the price, the unit would eventually be forced to close down.

Moreover, Mr Salifu clarified that the motive behind the increase in the price of the treatment is not to make a profit but rather to support and enable the hospital to provide quality services to its patients.

The increase may be replicated in other regional hospitals citing an increase in prices of consumables.

However, checks with JoyNews have revealed that the management of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is not in a hurry to increase the cost of dialysis treatment despite the high cost of consumables and other components.
According to reports, management is yet to officially discuss and plan on increasing the fees of the treatment.

Expensive dialysis treatment was highlighted at the just-ended #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration, where an angry protestor lamented the loss of the life of a patient as a result of an inability to afford the cost of the treatment.

The announcement about the abrupt increase has left some worried as they indicated that they were already struggling to afford the previous cost.

Some patients fear the new cost will exacerbate their situation.

Source: myjoyonline