The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Ministry of Health have been instructed by President Akufo-Addo to create a detailed strategy outlining the most effective way for the state to pay for kidney care.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah made this revelation in response to a petition sent to the government by a number of physicians under the auspices of the Private Health Facilities Associations on the recent dialysis crisis that has afflicted the nation.
“When the issue arose, the President gave the Health Authorities instructions to look into it and present a range of options for how to handle it. I am aware that such recommendations are expected in a few weeks. I refer to both the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority as “both.”
Dr. Samuel Boakye Donkor, the Vice President of the Association, further urged the government to take into account waiving taxes on any medical equipment—including dialysis machines—brought into the nation for the purpose of patient treatment.
“The alarmingly high number of kidney cases is rising every day. In order to better serve our Ghanaian population, we would like to acquire additional machines; however, the cost of importing these machines is prohibitive. We are begging the government to offer a tax waiver so we can bring more because once they reach the port, there are fees and amounts of money to pay.
Patients on dialysis treatment in Ghana recently lamented when the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s Renal Dialysis Unit on Wednesday, September 27 announced an increase from GH¢380 to GHS¢765.42 per dialysis session.
48 hours after Ghanaians became outraged over the new renal dialysis price, the hospital reversed its decision.
However, the renal unit at Korle-Bu has been closed to outpatients since May. The unit was reportedly closed due to a shortage of consumables.
The Renal Patients Association of Ghana has called on the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to reopen the renal unit to outpatients, warning that patients are dying due to the closure.
The call comes after the minority caucus of the Health Committee of Parliament gave the hospital a 24-hour ultimatum to reopen the unit, but the management refused.
