Patients on dialysis wonder what fate awaits them as gov’t remains silent on Free Dialysis policy

It was a programme started as a policy on December 1 on the National Health Insurance Scheme by the previous administration following series of concerns on the cost of dialysis in the country.

However, concerns remain about the programme’s sustainability and the government’s commitment to funding it. But how impactful has this programme been on the lives of patients?

Gladys Ahiakpor is a renal disease patient who has been battling the condition for 10 years. Looking fit and healthy today, this would not have been the case just a few months ago, when she could barely afford a single dialysis session needed to survive.

‘‘I couldn’t do anything. Not even to attend church service. People were ignoring my calls because they know I am calling to ask for support. You need to have seen my feet. They were swollen.” She explained.

An emotional 32-year-old Gladys said she never wants her hopes for a better life shattered again. In tears, she pleaded with government not to cancel the policy.

‘‘I don’t work. My only support system is also struggling. But Now I can go and come so if he cancels it, then we are going to die.” She lamented.

Her friend, Priscilla Kuma, who has also been battling the disease since she was 21, says she has never felt more hopeful since the introduction of the free dialysis policy.

Although they continue to receive treatment at various health facilities, both Gladys and Priscilla are mindful of the policy’s timelines, which are set to expire soon.

“My family is exhausted, so they have stopped supporting. Even my church has stopped the support. I had no help at all. I as swollen all over. I could barely afford one dialysis session in two weeks. I needed help but I can’t move. But now I can do everything on my own. In-fact we started thinking when the change of government happened. We don’t know our fate and we are wondering the next steps.” She also explained.

The president of the Renal Disease Patients Association, Kojo Baffour Ahenkorah, emphasizes the profound impact the free dialysis policy has had on the health and well-being of its members.

“I can say on authority that since we started the free dialysis, the mortality rate, I can say it’s about 1%. Secondly, when you see the patient, those people that you saw with potbelly and all those swells have all come down. First in a month, we lost about 4 people. But now just one in a month. Right now, our main worry is that it’s like rumor mongering that they will cancel it.

“In-fact as at this morning and from my checks at all the hospitals, nobody has been turned away yet. Our worry is that if anything, they should let us know. When you don’t have the money and you have to go for the dialysis, you can imagine the thoughts that will run through your mind.” He explained

The previous administration made it a priority, allocating 57 million cedis from the 1.9-billion-cedi budget for the first quarter of 2025. The allocation was approved by Parliament in January 2025.

Currently, 20 selected health facilities across the country are implementing the programme, with 45 dialysis machines brought in by the previous administration to support the initiative.

However, until the government makes an official statement regarding the future of this policy, many individuals like Gladys and Priscilla remain skeptical about what lies ahead.

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The post Patients on dialysis wonder what fate awaits them as gov’t remains silent on Free Dialysis policy first appeared on 3News.

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