The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Aboagye Dacosta, has announced a policy agreement aimed at alleviating the financial burden on end-stage kidney patients.
Dr. Dacosta disclosed that the decision awaits approval from the NHIA Board, envisaging the scheme absorbing a portion of the kidney treatment expenses.
In an interview with JoyNews on May 14, he stated, “I think we have made progress on dialysis, so just last week a committee that has been set up to chair and implement the disbursement of the funds that were approved by Parliament has actually concluded their report including the dialysis patients themselves.
He elaborated that the scheme would complement the increased dialysis costs, offering assistance to those in need.
“So, we work with themselves, they have concluded there and I can confidently say that within the next few weeks we will be starting the disbursement to the various facilities,” he said.
Dr. Dacosta noted that kidney patients at Korle Bu receive support from philanthropists covering approximately GH¢380 of their bills, with the scheme likely to cover the remaining expenses.
“We are looking at supplementing for both patients from Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital in Central in such a way that for Korle Bu because they do get that support, we will be able to breach a gap for them and we support our patients also from Cape Coast and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
“The fact is they[kidney patients] do eight cycles per month, we cannot do all the eight so we are looking at an average or may be below average…Like I said the report is ready, it is just to be taken to the board for final consideration then implementation starts,” he added.
Regarding the coverage provided by philanthropists, Kojo Baffour Ahenkorah, President of the Renal Patients Association of Ghana, praised Dr. Dacosta’s initiative during an interview on JoyNews’ the Pulse on May 14.
He mentioned that since the hospital reopened after its temporary closure, renal patients have paid the full dialysis cost, expressing uncertainty about the NHIA boss’s statement regarding the covered costs.
“So, we work with themselves, they have concluded there and I can confidently say that within the next few weeks we will be starting the disbursement to the various facilities,” he said.