Editor’s Pen: A Call to Action; Ensuring Proper Care for Renal Patients

As the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) prepares to roll out its free dialysis program on December 1, 2024, The Metro Lens Newspaper commends the government and Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye for their efforts to ease the medical burdens of Ghanaians. However, we urge the facilities earmarked for this lifesaving program to ensure proper, prompt care and treatment for all renal patients.

The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, in particular, must desist from charging patients who seek medical care from their facilities. It is unacceptable that patients with NHIA cards face difficulty accessing healthcare in most public and private hospitals, while others are charged to receive medical treatment despite being subscribers of NHIA.

We call on the NHIA to put in place a monitoring system to ensure patients receive timely treatment without excuses. The Authority must also ensure that the forty credentialled health facilities across the country provide financial risk protection against the high cost of dialysis treatment.

The free dialysis program is a significant step forward in Ghana’s healthcare delivery. We commend the government for allocating GHS20 million to GHS57 million annually to fund the program. The payment of over GHS1.5 million to six major health facilities during the pilot stage is also a testament to the government’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations ¹.

As the program rolls out, we urge all stakeholders to work together to ensure its success. The NHIA, healthcare facilities, and the government must prioritize the needs of renal patients and provide them with the care and treatment they deserve.

Let us work together to make this lifesaving program a success and improve the lives of thousands of renal patients across Ghana.