The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa, has announced that the organization will begin providing financial support for dialysis treatment on 1^st June 2024.

Dr. Da-Costa announced that the support will be provided for an initial six-month period, with the hope that additional funding will be allocated by the government by the end of that period to ensure the initiative’s long-term sustainability.

This would enable the continuation of support for dialysis patients beyond the initial six months.

This initiative builds on the recent parliamentary approval of GH₵2 million to support dialysis patients nationwide, demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing the pressing healthcare needs of renal patients across the country.

Alarming statistics reveal that approximately 1,300 Ghanaians rely on dialysis, with each patient requiring around 12 sessions per month.

The recent price hike from GH₵380 to GH₵491 per dialysis session means that patients now face a staggering monthly cost of nearly GH₵6,000 for the full 12 sessions, posing a significant burden on their finances and healthcare access.

According to the NHIA CEO, the fund allocation was determined by a stakeholder committee comprising CEOs and medical directors from key teaching hospitals, including Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye, and Cape Coast.

This collaborative approach, he noted, ensured that the allocation was informed by the expertise and insights of major stakeholders in the healthcare sector.

Furthermore, he revealed that the committee was chaired by the Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Nsiah Asare, and comprised himself and the spokesperson for dialysis patients as members, ensuring a diverse and informed decision-making process.

“Based on the money that we had, we knew that we could support two sessions at full cost. For Korle Bu, there is a philanthropy that supports each patient with GH₵380 so we will add the remaining balance so that they don’t pay anything for the two sessions”.
Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa

Equal Access to Dialysis Support

Moreover, Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa emphasized that patients receiving dialysis at facilities other than Korle Bu will receive full support for two sessions each, as they currently lack any financial assistance for their treatment, unlike their Korle Bu counterparts.

As such, he stated that the support will benefit approximately 600 patients from June to December, providing crucial assistance to a significant number of individuals.

Dr. Da-Costa, however, acknowledged that the government cannot cover the full cost of dialysis treatment for all patients, so they are aiming to provide support at a moderate level, which translates to covering two out of eight sessions per month.

“All I need now is to develop the BRG code so that when the patients go to the hospitals or facilities they can access this support. The money is available, it is left with the mechanism so by June 1 we should roll this out”.
Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa

He stressed that the approved funds are dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable patients and will be used to offset the cost of dialysis treatment at Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye, and Cape Coast hospitals, providing a vital financial lifeline to those who need it most.

Dr. Da-Costa, however, noted that the government cannot do all twelve so it is looking at an average or maybe below-average, hence its doing just two per month.

Recently, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital sparked controversy by increasing the cost of dialysis from GH¢380 to GH¢491, a decision that drew sharp criticism from some members of Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, who deemed the move illegal.

Dialysis treatment in Ghana has long been a pressing concern for both the government and the public, due to the limited availability and high cost of the treatment.

Only a handful of hospitals in the country possess the necessary machines, and even fewer have them in good working condition, exacerbating the issue.

This initiative is a positive move, reducing the financial burden of dialysis for patients, offering welcome relief and support.