The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will from this month absorb the cost of dialysis for all patients at varying proportions, with the vulnerable group receiving free eight sessions per month, according to a story published by graphiconline.com. Dialysis is a life-saving treatment for people with kidney failure. It removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so. However, it is a costly treatment and many people in Ghana cannot afford it.
According to the story, the scheme will absorb the costs of all eight dialysis sessions per month for patients aged under 18 and above 60 years, which it has categorised as the vulnerable group, for an initial period of six months.
The acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye said the scheme would absorb the cost of two dialysis sessions per month at GH¢982, that is GH¢491 per session, at all government facilities offering dialysis services, except the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), where a philanthropist has already offered GH¢380 subsidy per session, and NHIS would top up with GH¢245.50, which is 50 per cent of the cost per session, for two sessions per month, estimated at GH¢491.
Dr Aboagye explained that the support for the vulnerable group, with 84 verified patients, was estimated to cost GH¢329,952 per month and a six-month cumulative sum of GH¢2.3 million for those under 18 and above 60 years. For those aged 18 and 59 years the cost of dialysis for 147 verified patients worked out to GH¢144,354 per month and about GH¢1.01 million by the end of December this year, for all facilities, except KBTH.
The cost of dialysis for the treatment of 300 patients aged 18 and 59 years at KBTH is also estimated to be GH¢147,300 per month and a cumulative GH¢1.03 million by the end of December this year. This brings the total amount estimated to be absorbed by the scheme to GH¢4.35 million by the end of six months, Dr Aboagye stated.
The Renal Patients Association of Ghana have being lamenting about the turbulent times they go through as they struggle to finance their dialysis treatment. The financial burden of dialysis has long been a source of despair for many families in the country, often forcing them to make heart-wrenching choices between treatment and other essential needs. By absorbing these costs, the NHIS is offering a lifeline to those in need.
This move sets a precedent for other corporate entities and stakeholders to step up and contribute to healthcare support in Ghana. The NHIS’s proactive approach, backed by the government’s release of GH¢2 million and additional allocations, demonstrates a robust commitment to addressing the immediate needs of renal patients while working towards a sustainable, long-term solution.
As we applaud this initiative, it is also crucial to acknowledge the urgent need for a permanent, comprehensive strategy to manage renal diseases and other illnesses not currently covered by the NHIS. This long-term vision is essential to ensure that no patient is left behind and that access to critical healthcare services is not dictated by financial constraints.
The NHIS’s intervention comes at a pivotal time, providing much-needed relief amid ongoing economic challenges. It reflects a profound understanding of the intersection between health and financial stability, recognizing that the wellbeing of citizens is paramount to the nation’s progress.
We urge the government, corporate entities and all stakeholders to build on this momentum and work towards a healthcare system that ensures equitable access for all. The NHIS has lit the path towards a more inclusive healthcare system; it is now up to all of us to walk that path together.
