- Free dialysis for under 18s and over 60s from June to December 2024.
- Initiative marks NHIA's 20th anniversary, with GH¢2.3 million allocated.
- Patients aged 18-59 will receive subsidies for dialysis sessions.
- Government to unveil plan to address renal diseases and other illnesses
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced that individuals under 18 and over 60 years old with kidney diseases will receive free dialysis sessions from June 1 to December 2024. This initiative is part of the NHIA’s 20th-anniversary celebration and aims to support vulnerable patients.
According to a statement signed by the Acting CEO, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, the Government of Ghana has allocated GH¢2,000,000 for this intervention, which will be supplemented by an additional GH¢2,400,000 from the NHIA’s Corporate Social Responsibility budget.
The initiative will benefit patients who require dialysis treatment, with the cost projected to be GH¢329,952 per month. By the end of December 2024, the cumulative cost is estimated to be approximately GH¢2.3 million.
However, patients aged 18 to 59 years from selected hospitals, excluding Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), will receive a subsidy for two dialysis sessions per month at GH¢982.00, translating to GH¢491 per session.
The cost of dialysis for this treatment category is projected to be GH¢144,354 per month, with a cumulative cost of approximately GH¢1.01 million by the end of December 2024.
Patients at KBTH will receive a subsidy for two dialysis sessions per month at GH¢245.50 per session, which is 50% of the cost per session at GH¢491.00. This is due to a philanthropic gesture of GH¢380.00 offered to patients to address equity across all facilities.
The cost of dialysis for this treatment category at KBTH is projected to be GH¢147,300 per month, with a cumulative cost of approximately GH¢1.03 million by the end of December 2024.
The Government has committed to finding sustainable interventions for renal diseases and other illnesses not currently covered under the NHIS. A holistic plan will be unveiled soon to address these concerns.
This initiative follows complaints by the Renal Patients Association of Ghana about the high cost of dialysis treatment at public health facilities. The Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, had promised to engage with NHIA and the Health Committee in Parliament to ensure that renal patients are included in the NHIS.
The NHIA’s initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden of dialysis treatment for vulnerable patients and ensure that they receive the necessary care to manage their condition effectively.
