NHIA CEO, Dr. Dacosta Aboagye addressing the media
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has declared its readiness for the implementation of the government’s promise of free dialysis for kidney patients.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, following a meeting with heads of major public hospitals in the country, the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, stated that the NHIA has consulted extensively with various health facilities, which are prepared for the full rollout of the program on December 1, 2024.
According to him, the pilot program, which was limited to patients under 18 years, has provided the NHIA and the hospitals with the information necessary for the successful expansion of the program.
Based on research and groundwork done so far, the NHIA is expected to spend between GHC20 million and GHC50 million on the policy, which kicks off on December 1, every year.
Regarding the sustainability of the policy, Dr. Dacosta Aboagye stated that the promise by the presidential candidates of the two leading political parties to uncap the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will ensure that the authority gets adequate funding to finance its activities, including the free dialysis promise.
He also announced that the NHIA will embark on cost-cutting measures to ensure that funds are freed up for this life-saving policy.
“We have thought through this carefully, worked out the numbers, and are convinced that the NHIA can take on the free dialysis without any problem. We’ve projected this into the future and we know the numbers. The manifestos of both parties include uncapping the NHIA, which will give us significant extra funds for this project.
“We are going to work with 40 facilities to start while we wait for others to apply. More dialysis machines have been purchased to reduce pressure on the already existing machines. Seven have already been cleared, with 23 more at the ports awaiting clearance. This is to improve the well-being of all, especially renal disease patients,” he explained.
The readiness of the nation’s premier health facility, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, was disclosed by its CEO, Dr. Frank Owusu-Sekyere.
“We are ready to start on December 1. Arrangements have been made at the renal units, and so all is set. Consumables are also being brought in, so there is no cause for alarm,” he assured.
The free dialysis initiative was first announced by the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, during a stakeholder engagement at Old Tafo Pankrono Constituency.
EK