The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced that, beginning December 1, 2024 all kidney patients under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will be offered free kidney dialysis treatment.
This initiative follows the six-month pilot programme that provided free dialysis for those over 60 years and under 18 years, under the NHIS. The move is aimed at addressing the high financial burden associated with the life-saving treatment.
“Kidney disease is a serious concern and dialysis is often out of reach for many who need it,” Dr. Bawumia said during a campaign stop at Old Tafo in Kumasi on Sunday [November 10].
“With the pilot success, I’m pleased to announce that all NHIS members requiring dialysis will have this service covered in full, starting December 2024,” he said.
This is good news in our healthcare system. Free dialysis coverage under NHIS signals a lifeline for thousands of patients in desperate need of regular, but expensive treatment to manage chronic kidney disease (CKD).
This is a huge relief for patients who have struggled with costs for so long.
For instance, in Ghana, a developing country where healthcare costs can quickly drain families’ resources, this initiative is long overdue and we must rally in support of this program.
Kidney disease has emerged as a growing public health challenge. Studies reveal that about 13% of adults in Ghana suffer from chronic kidney disease, with the prevalence increasing among young adults as well.
The high prevalence is largely driven by hypertension, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, which continue to rise in our communities. Patients suffering from advanced CKD are faced with two treatment options: kidney transplant or dialysis.
While transplants are a permanent solution, they are costly and logistically complex; dialysis remains the more common and viable option for most Ghanaians. However, until now, dialysis costs have been prohibitively high, pushing many families into debt or forcing them to abandon treatment altogether.
Dialysis treatment costs in the country typically range from GHS 300 to GHS 500 per session, and with patients requiring up to three sessions weekly, the monthly cost easily exceeds GHS 4,500. For an average Ghanaian household, this translates into an unaffordable expense, often leaving families with impossible choices between managing medical costs and meeting basic living needs.
To place this in perspective, the World Bank estimates the average Ghanaian household income per capita to be around GHS 8,000 per year, barely covering two months of dialysis treatments. As a result, many patients either forego treatment or receive it irregularly, putting their health and lives at constant risk.
This new NHIS initiative, following a successful pilot program that offered free dialysis to patients, signals that Ghana is stepping up to provide meaningful healthcare solutions that address both medical and economic challenges.
The extension of free dialysis to all NHIS members is a victory not only for kidney patients, but also for the entire healthcare system, which stands to benefit from reducing emergency cases caused by insufficient dialysis treatments.
While we celebrate this advancement, it is essential to understand that healthcare infrastructure must be ready to handle the expected increase in dialysis demand.
The country currently has only a handful of dialysis centers, concentrated primarily in urban areas, leaving rural and peri-urban populations at a disadvantage.
Additional resources must be allocated to expand the number of dialysis machines, trained personnel and support services throughout the country.
Investments in transportation and accommodation support for patients traveling from distant regions are also necessary to make this program truly accessible to all NHIS members.
Furthermore, the government must take proactive steps to address the root causes of kidney disease, such as hypertension and diabetes, which are preventable and manageable with proper lifestyle modifications and early intervention.
Neighboring countries such as Nigeria have also made strides in subsidizing dialysis costs, although coverage remains inconsistent and dependent on state resources. With this bold step, we set a precedent for the region, demonstrating that it is possible to prioritize citizens’ health even amidst economic challenges.
The journey is not over. We must urge healthcare providers, and communities to support this program’s expansion and sustain it for future generations. The road ahead will require resources, collaboration, and vigilance to ensure equitable access and quality of care across the country.
However, with the continued commitment of stakeholders, we can ensure that this program not only succeeds, but serves as a model for addressing other critical healthcare needs.
It is a historic step that deserves both our support and our efforts to expand its reach and impact.
