GKA Taking Steps Towards Accessible, Affordable Dialysis
The Ghana Kidney Association (GKA) has announced engagements are far advanced to render renal dialysis services accessible and affordable to patients across the country.
This was contained in a statement dated October 3, 2023.
The GKA in their press statement said they were engaging stakeholders to end the menace for renal patients.
“Outcome of such engagement would be made known to the public,” it added.
It comes in response to recent outcries about the cost of dialysis and the closure of the Renal Dialysis Unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to outpatients since May 2023.
These developments have cost the lives of at least 14 outpatients who were unable to afford the cost of dialysis in private medical facilities in the country.
NHIS Cover
There have been calls for the renal dialysis treatment to be incorporated onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Renal Patients Association as well as the World health Organisation have joined the calls. They both indicate that the move will ease patients the financial burden that accompanies the treatment procedure.
But Director of Corporate Affairs at the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA), Oswald Mensah, has doused hopes that the move will take place any time soon.
“As we’re hearing, the dialysis treatment is quite expensive. If NHIA has to consider that, a lot of actuarial study would have to be carried out to see whether the scheme will be sustainable if we take it on board. But that being said if the patients present with acute renal failure for instance, the scheme covers that and pays for that,” Joynews quotes him as saying during an interview.
Dialysis is a treatment to clean the blood when kidneys are not able to. It helps your body remove waste and extra fluids in your blood- a function pertaining to the Kidney organ.
Prevention
Meanwhile, the GKA entreated general public to live healthy to protect their kidneys by adhering to treatment of risk factors like Hypertension.
“Diabetes mellitus and avoiding the abuse of pain killers and herbs. Early reporting to hospital for all patients who have been diagnosed with kidney disease can slow down disease progression,” it advised.
