The CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Dacosta-Aboagye has assured that all is set for government to commence the roll out of the Free Dialysis policy from December 1.
Thepolicy, scheduled to become operational in about 40 selected health facilities, is estimated to cost government between GHC20 million to GHC57 million annually.
Dr. Dacosta-Aboagye at a joint press briefing with heads of some selected health facilities on November 26, assured Ghanaians of their readiness to start the rollout.
The announcement of the facilities’ readiness was made public following a close door engagement between the various stakeholders at the NHIA Head Office.
Addressing the media, Dr. Dacosta-Aboagye noted, all engagements with the heads of facilities have been finalized and they will start the implementation as scheduled. They will then make electronic claims of their monies per the standard protocol for onward payment.
“We are going to work with 40 facilities for the start while we wait on others to apply. More dialysis machines have been purchased to reduce pressure on the already existing machines. 7 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.
About five million Ghanaians are projected to be suffering from some form of renal malfunction, hence the initiative which seeks to alleviate the cost burden on renal disease patients in the country.
The cost of renal disease in the country currently ranges between GHC300 to GHC1,000 cedis and every patient will require at least 4 sessions in a week.
Currently, close to two thousand patients are on dialysis in the country and the heads of the health facilities say they are all set and ready for the task.
Ag. CEO of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Frank Owusu-Sekyere, says his outfit is ever ready to accommodate the anticipated surge in numbers of patients.
“We are ready to start coming December 1. Arrangements have been made at the rental units and so all is set. Consumables are also being brought in so there is no cause for alarm,” he assured.
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