Patients undergoing dialysis will be able to receive dialysis free of charge for the next six months under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) free dialysis programme which will come into effect from June 1, 2024.
According to the National Health Insurance Authority, the initiative will cost the government GHC4.4 million but aims to bring some relief to patients.
Patients below 18 years and above 60 years will be given full access to eight free dialysis sessions per month under the National Health Insurance Scheme in all teaching hospitals in the country, an official statement said.
The scheme will also cover twice-monthly dialysis for people aged between 18 and 59 years at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH), Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) and Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
However, patients undergoing dialysis at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) will enjoy a 50 percent discount on the cost of two dialysis sessions every month.
The statement explained that funding for the NHIS free dialysis programme was provided from GHC2 million approved by Parliament for vulnerable patients, while the authority also provided an additional 2.4 million cedis from administrative sources.
President of the Kidney Patients Association, Kojo Baffour Ahenkorah, said he was elated about the initiative but was concerned about its sustainability.
“This is great and we are really grateful. It hasn’t been easy over the years. It is commendable that we have been able to get this support but what happens after December? Moving forward, we are looking for a lasting solution and that is why we are trying to set up a fund so that money can be put in by Ghanaian companies for a lasting solution,” he said.
He also called on the government to do more to support them.
He said, “Each person has eight sessions a month, and you cancel two of them. You leave the remaining six to us. If you multiply six times 419, you’ll see that’s still very high. No one can sustain that.”
A total of 531 patients will benefit from this initiative.
Sarah Apencro