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The
government, through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has
officially launched the ‘free dialysis’ treatment program for all persons
suffering from renal diseases, effective December 1, 2024.
The NHIA Chief
Executive, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, unveiled the government’s lifesaving
initiative during a news conference at the Head Office in Accra on November 26,
2024.
He envisaged that the Authority would need a minimum of about Ghs 20 million
to Ghs57 million for the program, which the government is committed to funding.
He said forty
(40) credentialled health facilities across the country have been
mandated to provide financial risk protection against the high cost of dialysis
treatment.
Prior to the public pronouncement, Dr.
Da-Costa Aboagye engaged the heads of the 40 health facilities that had been
prepared for the implementation process and were advised to desist from illegal
charges (extortions).
Pilot
Earlier, the Chief Executive, Dr Da-Costa Aboagye, at Ejisu in the
Ashanti Region, said the full implementation demonstrated the government's
focus on improving healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations.
He revealed that during the pilot stage, the NHIA paid over
Ghs1.5million to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Cape Coast Teaching
Hospital (CCTH), Efia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH), Ho Teaching Hospital
(HTH), Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH)
for treating dialysis patients.
Modern
dialysis machines support for health facilities
Dr.
Da-Costa Aboagye, at a consultative forum organized by the Komfo Anokye
Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, pledged that some major health facilities are
to receive more machines from the Authority to ensure quality healthcare
services for the free dialysis program.
He
said the World Bank is funding the project which will be done through the
Public Procurement regulations.
Claims payments debt clearance
Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye praised the government for consistently
releasing enough funds to the Authority, which resulted in the payments of
Ghs1.2 billion to credentialed healthcare providers.
He
added that the Authority is reviewing the Scheme’s medicine tariffs to reflect
pharmaceutical companies' unpredictable market controls.
Source: ABDUL KARIM NAATOGMAH
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