Healthcare is a fundamental human right, essential for the well-being and prosperity of individuals and societies.
However, in Ghana, healthcare has become a political tool, used to sway public opinion and gain political advantage.
Political leaders often make promises to improve healthcare services or provide free healthcare to win votes, but these promises are not always fulfilled.
This results in delayed or blocked healthcare reforms as political infighting and disagreements hinder the implementation of much-needed healthcare reforms, leaving the healthcare system in a state of limbo.
Furthermore, political leaders may use public health crises, such as outbreaks or epidemics, to score political points rather than prioritize effective response and management as was exemplified during the COVID-19 health crisis.
During this term, the government prioritized engaging in a rivalry with the previous administration over who made greater contributions to the country’s healthcare system, rather than dedicating efforts to enhancing working conditions and standards for frontline healthcare workers.
Moreover, healthcare resources may be allocated based on political considerations rather than medical needs, exacerbating existing health disparities and politicians may also prioritize political gain over medical needs.
Recently, the government through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has introduced a free dialysis treatment for renal patients under 18 and above 60, addressing the high cost of renal disease treatment.
However, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, expressed skepticism about the long-term feasibility of the NHIA’s decision to offer free dialysis treatment to kidney patients.
From June 1 to December 2024, kidney patients will enjoy complimentary monthly dialysis sessions, but Kwabena Akandoh believes the government’s resources would be better allocated towards subsidizing dialysis costs, rather than covering them in full.
According to the Ranking Member, the government must devise a sustainable approach to funding dialysis sessions for patients in the country.
“The patients deserve better, and the government can come in [to help]. If you look at the payment or the purchase of vaccines, sometimes the National Health Insurance pays something and the government will also come in to pay counterpart funding, so this is not sustainable”.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
Furthermore, Akandoh raised suspicions about the motivations behind the initiative, citing its timing and duration as peculiar, especially given the country’s impending elections.
He suggested that the move may be driven by political calculations rather than a genuine desire to support renal patients.
“It is only for six months and it is so because we are in the election period. All this while we have not heard the Vice President speak about this. It is political because after December, there is no plan, so you go back to paying what you used to pay. And in actual fact, it has increased from GH¢380 to GH¢491”.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
Putting Patients Over Politics
To address this issue, governments must prioritize healthcare over political interests, ensuring that healthcare decisions are based on medical needs rather than political considerations.
As such, the government must establish independent healthcare entities to oversee healthcare decision-making, free from political influence, ensuring that medical expertise drives decision-making.
Also, the government needs to promote transparency by ensuring healthcare decision-making and resource allocation are more open and accessible, enabling citizens to track progress and hold leaders accountable.
Transparency in resource allocation is crucial, but consistency is equally essential to ensure a well-functioning healthcare system.
However, Ghana’s health sector has historically struggled with the timely release of funds, which has hindered effective healthcare delivery.
Recent reports indicate that the Ministry of Finance has failed to pay the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) approximately GH₵2.4 billion in revenue arrears, spanning eight months, sparking concerns about the scheme’s financial sustainability.
This has led to the NHIS facing significant financial difficulties this fiscal year, making it challenging for the scheme to meet its payment obligations to healthcare providers, potentially disrupting healthcare services.
Furthermore, by allocating healthcare resources based on medical needs, prioritizing areas with the highest health burdens, and addressing disparities in access to care, Ghana can effectively depoliticize healthcare.
As such, this will ensure that medical needs rather than political considerations drive healthcare decision-making and resource allocation.
According to Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, CEO of NHIA, the NHIS is considering broadening its coverage beyond renal diseases to encompass additional chronic conditions, potentially providing more comprehensive healthcare support to patients with ongoing health needs.
“But what I know is that we are looking at it in totality. It’s not a case that we are only going to look at kidney diseases. We are going to look at other diseases. Governments do have a comprehensive plan from where I sit to not only focus on kidney diseases, but other chronic diseases”.
Dr. Dacosta Aboagye
Also, Dr. Aboagye revealed that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is currently conducting actuarial studies to determine the next steps for the renal disease coverage program beyond the initial six-month period, which was previously announced.
“So my advice, of which government knows about this, of which we are working together, is that we should look at it in totality. How do we fund chronic diseases, including dialysis? So what is happening is that we’ll use this as learning to obviously see what we can do. By that time, the actuarial study would have been ready”.
Dr. Dacosta Aboagye
The politicization of healthcare in Ghana is a threat to the well-being of its citizens. It is therefore essential for governments to recognize healthcare as a fundamental right, rather than a political tool.
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