Patients on dialysis to undergo free sessions for the next six months

Patients on dialysis are to undergo sessions free of charge for the next six months under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Free Dialysis Program effective June 1, 2024.

The initiative, which will cost government GHC4.4 million according to the National Health Insurance Authority, seeks to bring some relief to the patients.

A statement from the Authority explained that patients under the age of 18 and those above 60 years will receive all eight (8) free dialysis sessions per month under the National Health Insurance Scheme across all the teaching hospitals in the country.

The scheme will also pay for two sessions of dialysis per month for those within the age range of 18 to 59 at the following facilities Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Efia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH), Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) and Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).

Patients who go to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) for dialysis will however get a 50 percent off the cost of 2 sessions every month.

Funding of the NHIS FREE DIALYSIS PROGRAM the statement explained was from the GHC2million approved by Parliament for the vulnerable patients while the Authority also provided an extra 2.4 million cedis from administrative sources.

President of the Renal Patients Association, Kojo Baffour Ahenkorah says they are elated at the initiative, but concerned about its sustainability.

“It’s a great thing and we really appreciative it. It has not been easy all these years and to get this support it’s a laudable one but after December what next? The way forward is that we are trying to look for a lasting solution. So, we are trying to set up a fund so that something will be put in from corporate Ghana for a lasting solution,” he said.

He further called on the government to do more to support them.

He said “each person is doing eight sessions a month and they taking two sessions, the six is left with us so multiply the 6x 419 and you can see it’s still very high. Nobody can sustain it.”
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In all, 531 patients will be benefiting from the initiative.

By Sarah Apenkroh

The post Patients on dialysis to undergo free sessions for the next six months first appeared on 3News.

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