The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced good news to renal patients across the country.
The NHIS has revealed it is expanding its free dialysis programme to provide greater access to life-saving treatment for renal patients across the country.
The NHIA will purchase more dialysis machines for healthcare facilities in the country as part of the initiative.
The expansion is in line with the government’s broader strategy to improve access to critical healthcare services.
Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Victor Bampoe, explained that the programme aims to include more patients suffering from kidney conditions under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“The previous government started the free dialysis, and there are 20 centres where the service is offered free of charge. What is needed is to expand it to make it more sustained in terms of funding,” he said.
“So that instead of the exercise depending on some funds, it will become like any other disease under the NHIS,” Dr. Bampoe added.
The move is expected to ease the financial burden on patients and their families, many of whom struggle with the high cost of dialysis treatment in Ghana.
The policy builds on a successful pilot programme that earlier catered to patients under 18 and those over 60 years old.
Accredited Facilities Offering Free Dialysis Treatment
The following hospitals will participate in the program:
- Hart Adventist Hospital
- Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
- FirstCare Hospital
- Holy Family Hospital (Berekum)
- Cape Coast Teaching Hospital
- Eastern Regional Hospital
- Korle Bu Teaching Hospita
- 37 Military Hospital
- Newtown Islamic Hospital Ltd
- Ghana Police Hospital
- Trust Hospital Premium Centre
- Ridge Regional Hospital
- International Maritime Hospital
- Tamale Teaching Hospital
- Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga
- Upper West Regional Hospital
- Ho Teaching Hospital
- Volta Regional Hospital, Hohoe
- Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital
- Takoradi Hospital
The program is designed to provide kidney patients with free dialysis treatment, offering critical financial relief for individuals and families who previously struggled to afford the life-saving procedure.
However, concerns have been raised about the readiness of the policy’s implementation, with questions surrounding resource allocation and infrastructure adequacy as the launch date approaches.
Despite these concerns, Dr. Bawumia reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative, emphasizing its importance in addressing the health needs of kidney patients nationwide.
The NHIS is poised to implement this transformative policy, marking a significant step toward improving access to healthcare for vulnerable populations in Ghana.
