The Renal Patients Association has confirmed the resumption of outpatient department (OPD) services at the Korle-Bu Renal Unit, following a week-long suspension that disrupted treatment for numerous patients.
The President of the association, Kojo Baffour Ahenkora, voiced his frustration regarding the unit’s inadequate communication with patients during the service disruption.
He pointed out that patients did not receive any formal notification about either the suspension of services or their eventual resumption.
However, Mr. Ahenkora confirmed that, based on reports received from patients, the Renal Unit is now fully operational.
“[On] Tuesday, people were called to report for their session, which presumably means that maybe they have received some of the consumables which were allegedly short. Yesterday, some of them were called to report back to their unit for their treatment. This morning, too, the Wednesday batch has also been called to come for their treatment,” he explained.
Mr. Ahenkora stressed the importance of clear and timely updates from the hospital, stating that the lack of official communication forced patients to rely on unconfirmed information.
“We believe that it is now open to the OPD, but we believe that proper communication should have been done; ‘we had a problem, but now we have resumed,’ so that we will know that we are good to go. But as I said, it is a hearsay rumour.”
Despite the communication concerns, Mr. Ahenkora offered a positive update on the service delivery: “I can confirm that the unit is working fully now. I have not been there this morning, but my checks with some of the patients who are there this morning tell me that they are on the machine receiving treatment.”
