The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disbursed over GH₵200 million to healthcare facilities nationwide as part of the implementation of the free dialysis services for kidney patients under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, December 1, 2024.
“The NHIA has today [Sunday] released over GHS200 million as claims payment to healthcare facilities nationwide as free dialysis treatment begins.”
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia Dew announced weeks ago that, effective December 1, 2024, the government will roll out free dialysis treatment services for kidney patients.
The objective of the initiative is to alleviate the financial burden on kidney patients covered by the NHIS. It builds upon a successful pilot program earlier this year that targeted patients under 18 and those over 60.
According to the government, the initiative will ease the financial burden on kidney patients nationwide, ensuring equitable access to essential dialysis services.
The Finance Minister has allocated about GHC2 billion for the next three months, translating to about GHC600 million per month.
Dr. Aboagye assured that the program is sustainable regardless of government changes, as it’s included in the NHIS Benefit Package.
To support healthcare facilities, the NHIA, in collaboration with the World Bank and the Ministry of Health, has ordered 30 dialysis machines, with seven already delivered. This effort is part of the larger Agenda 111 initiative aimed at improving healthcare accessibility.
Dr. Frank Owusu-Sekyere, Acting Chief Executive of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, confirmed that they are prepared for the expected increase in renal patients, with arrangements in place to start on the launch date.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
