President of the Renal Patients Association, Kojo Baffour Ahenkorah has confirmed that the free kidney dialysis treatment introduced by the previous NPP administration is still ongoing.
He asserted that the introduction of the free dialysis has drastically reduced mortality rate among kidney patients.
The erstwhile Akufo-Addo government in December 2024 commenced the free dialysis treatment for kidney patients in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme. The initiative was roll out in some 20 public hospitals.
This was after series of concerns on the cost of dialysis in the country and the burden associated with dialysis treatment.
However, Health Minister, Mintah Akandoh in an interview with JoyNews on March 12 dismissed claims that dialysis treatment is free in Ghana.
The Minister says such claims are “misleading” as funds allocated for funding free dialysis expired last year.
“I get confused when people say there is free dialysis somewhere in Ghana. This is a misleading statement. There’s no free dialysis anywhere,” he said.
“The National Health Insurance Formula that covered this expired on December 31, 2024. Beyond that date, there was absolutely nothing like free dialysis because there was no policy or source of funding,” he added.
But Mr. Baffour Ahenkorah confirmed in an interview with TV3 that since December 2024, members with NHIS card have freely received dialysis treatment which he said has contributed massively to their well-being.
“From December 1 as I speak now, members have been going there with their National Health Insurance Card and dialyze. Once you are a member of the NHIS and you have a card and it has not expired, you will have access to the dialysis machine then you can dialyze and go. It’s still smoothly ongoing.
“From December up till now the mortality rate has gone down drastically. We hardly hear a patient is dead. Before this came into inception, people were not having money to go and do it regular as we are getting the opportunity now,” he told TV3 on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
The Renal Patients Association pleaded with government to ensure sustainability of the free dialysis as they cannot bear the cost involved.
“We still don’t know the Minister’s plan, we want to have a chat with him and sit down and let’s see the way forward because we cannot pay. We should look at it holistically and let’s see the way, something can be done.
“For now, we don’t know whether we are getting back to pay or not, we don’t know what is going on,” Baffour Ahenkorah noted.
Read also: Patients on dialysis wonder what fate awaits them as gov’t remains silent on Free Dialysis policy
Government Exploring Sustainable Funding Model
The government has disclosed that it is taking steps to establish a sustainable funding model and legal framework for free dialysis and the treatment of other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana.
Mintah Akandoh on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, inaugurated a nine-member technical Task Force of Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as “Mahama Cares” to oversee its implementation, focusing on improving healthcare infrastructure and easing the financial burden on patients battling chronic illnesses like kidney disease.
The committee chaired by Rev. Prof. Emeritus Seth Aryeetey is expected to finalize their work and provide a report by April 15, 2025.
Source:
3news.com
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