Accra, June 4, 2024 – Patients undergoing dialysis in Ghana will receive free sessions for the next six months under the newly launched National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Free Dialysis Program. Effective June 1, 2024, this initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on patients and will cost the government GHC4.4 million, according to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

A The NHIA’s statement outlined the program's details, noting that patients under 18 and those above 60 will receive up to eight free dialysis sessions per month at all teaching hospitals nationwide. For patients aged 18 to 59, the scheme covers two free sessions per month at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Efia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH), Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH), and Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Patients at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) will receive a 50 percent discount on two dialysis sessions per month.

The funding for this initiative comes from a GHC2 million allocation approved by Parliament for vulnerable patients, with an additional GHC2.4 million provided by the NHIA from administrative sources.

B Kojo Baffour Ahenkorah, President of the Renal Patients Association, expressed gratitude for the program but raised concerns about its sustainability. "It's a great initiative, and we really appreciate it. It has not been easy all these years, and to get this support is laudable. But after December, what next?" Ahenkorah stated. He emphasized the need for a long-term solution, suggesting the establishment of a fund with contributions from corporate Ghana to ensure continued support for renal patients.

He also highlighted the ongoing financial challenges, noting, "Each person needs eight sessions a month, and while the program covers two, the remaining six still cost us. Multiply 6 by GHC419, and you can see it's still very high. Nobody can sustain this."

The NHIS Free Dialysis Program is a significant step towards supporting renal patients in Ghana, but as the Renal Patients Association points out, there is a need for a more sustainable solution to address the long-term needs of these patients.

Source by 3 News .com