Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, a member of the Parliamentary Health Committee, criticized the government for prematurely announcing free dialysis treatment for renal patients without first collaborating with healthcare facilities to develop a strategic plan for implementation.
She emphasized the need for a more thoughtful and coordinated approach for a smooth implementation of the initiative.
Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare’s remarks come in response to complaints from renal patients at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, who claim that despite the government’s announcement of free dialysis treatment, they are still being charged for the service because the hospital has not received official notification to waive payment.
She emphasized that if the government had consulted with healthcare facility managers, they could have anticipated and mitigated these issues, ensuring a smoother implementation of the free dialysis treatment program, and avoiding the confusion and frustration currently experienced by renal patients.
As such, she concurred with critics that the government’s preparation and planning leading up to the announcement of free dialysis treatment were inadequate and lacking, leading to the current challenges and confusion in implementing the policy.
“You see dialysis is a life support procedure and we all know that it is difficult for people to pay. I know there are patients who get help from family, but once the announcement is made people will be reluctant to help them. So, I am also of the opinion that the preparation should have been adequate. There should have been a discussion with the health facilities as to the modalities for the procedure to be done free of charge”.
Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare
Madam Ofosu-Adjare revealed that the committee has initiated discussions with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department and other relevant parties to guarantee timely and consistent funding for hospitals providing free renal care, with the ultimate goal of safeguarding the lives of patients relying on this critical treatment.
Gov’t Urged To Redirect COVID-19 Funds To Healthcare
Furthermore, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare proposed that the funds allocated for COVID-19 response should be redirected to support healthcare services and infrastructure, rather than supplementing government budgets, to strengthen the country’s healthcare system and improve the quality of care for citizens.
“I am of the opinion that government should be looking at funding the National Health Insurance Authority and so we should look at funding so that these people can be catered for”.
Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare
She suggested that the COVID-19 fund could be repurposed to cover the costs of renal treatment and other chronic diseases under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), providing a vital lifeline for patients struggling with these conditions and ensuring they receive the necessary care without financial burden.
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) launched a six-month initiative on June 3, offering free dialysis treatment to renal patients from June 2024 to December 2024, providing temporary relief and essential care to those in need.
According to a statement released by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) on June 1, the dialysis support program has categorized beneficiaries into two groups: the vulnerable group, comprising patients under 18 and over 60 years old, and the second group, consisting of patients between 18 and 59 years old, with different support structures in place for each category.
However, renal patients undergoing treatment at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital are expressing frustration, stating that they have not received any benefits from the government’s free dialysis program, which was launched on June 1.
A patient reported that when he visited the hospital to inquire about the free dialysis program, he was informed by hospital staff that they had not received official notification to begin implementing the program, leaving him and possibly other patients in limbo.
Meanwhile, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital convened an emergency meeting with its top administrators to address the ongoing difficulties and obstacles hindering the implementation of the free renal care program announced by the NHIA, seeking to find solutions to the challenges affecting the service’s delivery.
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