Dialysis Incorporation into NHIS Begins in June

Patients with renal or kidney failure will enjoy free dialysis from June 2024, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced, stating some GHC4.4 million has been set aside to assist such patients across the country.

For the next six months, dialysis patients categorized as vulnerable that is, those below 18 years and those above 60 will receive all eight monthly dialysis sessions for free under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The cost of this, a statement released by the Authority on Monday said will cost GHC329,952 per month and GHC2.3 million by the end of the year.

For patients aged 18 to 59 years who receive treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Efia Niwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH), Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) and the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) they will be entitled to two free dialysis sessions.

This is estimated to cost GHC144,354 per month and GHC1.01 million by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, patients who receive treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) will receive a subsidy for two dialysis sessions per month at GHS491.00, which is 50% of the cost per session.

This exception, it explained, is due to a philanthropic gesture of GHS380.00 being offered to such patients at the facility.

“The cost of dialysis for this treatment category at KBTH is projected to be GHc 147,300 per month and by the end of December 2024, the cumulative cost is estimated to be approximately GHc 1.03 million.”

Funding
This initiative is being undertaken with approved GHC2 million in the NHIA’s 2024 Allocation Formula by Parliament and GHC2 million set aside by the Authority for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

“The Government of Ghana through Parliament approved an amount of Two Million Ghana Cedis (GHc2,000,000.00) in the NHIA’s 2024 Allocation Formula to support needy and vulnerable patients seeking dialysis treatment.

“As part of NHIA’s 20th Anniversary, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) through administrative arrangements has allocated an additional two million, four hundred thousand Ghana Cedis (GHc2,400,000.00), under the Corporate Social Responsibility approved budget of the scheme to support this initiative.”