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The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced the provision of free dialysis sessions for children and elderly patients suffering from kidney diseases.
This development comes after persistent advocacy by former Information Minister, now Works and Housing Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who has been vocal about the need for accessible dialysis treatment.
The NHIA will offer eight free dialysis sessions per month to patients under 18 and over 60 years old from June to December 2024. Additionally, patients aged 18 to 59 from several hospitals, including Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, will receive a subsidy for two dialysis sessions per month. However, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) patients will benefit from an even larger subsidy, thanks to a philanthropic contribution that reduces the session cost by GH¢380.00.
Expressing his satisfaction with this progress, Oppong Nkrumah posted on Facebook, “Happy to read this report that the NHIA has finally agreed to underwrite an appreciable part of dialysis care costs. Thumbs up to the board and management. The next step is to ensure automaticity of fund flows, cut back the levy, and take appropriate market premiums.”
His post has sparked a wave of commendations on social media. One user, Akua Mensah, commented, “Thank you, Hon. Nkrumah, for tirelessly fighting for us. My father will now get the treatment he needs without the financial burden.” Another user, Kwame Asare, said, “Your efforts have paid off! This is a monumental step for healthcare in Ghana. Kudos to you!”
Under his Facebook post, Kofi Ali commented: “Great work honourable. You’re one of the few honest and hardworking politicians we have in Ghana.”
This policy change addresses the high cost and accessibility issues surrounding dialysis treatment in Ghana, a topic that gained urgency as the number of patients needing such care increased and available machines dwindled. The NHIA’s plan projects a monthly cost of GH¢144,354 for the subsidized treatments at selected hospitals and approximately GH¢147,300 at KBTH, with cumulative costs estimated at over GH¢1 million by the end of the year.
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