The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced a significant expansion of its free dialysis program, aiming to increase access to life-saving treatment for renal patients across Ghana.
As part of this initiative, the NHIA will procure additional dialysis machines and essential consumables for healthcare facilities nationwide.
According to Dr. Victor Bampoe, Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, the program builds on the foundation laid by the previous government, which introduced free dialysis services at 20 centers.
“The previous government started the free dialysis, and there are 20 centres where the service is offered free of charge,” Dr. Bampoe explained. “What is needed is to expand it to make it more sustained in terms of funding.”
The expansion is designed to alleviate the financial burden on patients and families struggling with the high cost of dialysis treatment.
Dr. Bampoe emphasized that the program will become more sustainable by integrating it into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), allowing it to operate like any other disease treatment under the scheme.
“So that instead of the exercise depending on some funds, it will become like any other disease under the NHIS,” he added.
This development is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of renal patients, providing them with greater access to essential treatment and reducing the financial strain associated with dialysis.