The Government is making significant progress toward permanently including kidney disease dialysis in the list of ailments covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has announced that the NHIA board will meet next month to finalize the decision.
Since June 2024, the NHIA has been absorbing dialysis costs at varying rates, offering eight free sessions per month for vulnerable groups, while others received subsidized care. However, this initiative—initially launched as a six-month program—is set to end in two months, prompting public concerns about the program’s continuity.
Addressing these concerns, Dr. Aboagye assured the public of the government’s commitment to sustaining the initiative. He explained:
“The team has analyzed the data, and we’ve discovered that facilities haven’t used all the funds allocated based on initial projections. This gives us room to sustain and scale the program across the country.”
He further emphasized that any challenges experienced during the program’s early stages have been resolved. Patients who paid for dialysis in June have since been refunded, with Major Ankara, the leader of a patient advocacy group, confirming the reimbursements.
Dr. Aboagye also highlighted that Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which benefited from additional subsidies through a philanthropist, required adjustments to ensure equity across facilities. The NHIA used this “equity concept” to balance the benefits provided to all dialysis patients.
The initiative followed extensive public discussions on the challenges of accessing dialysis services in the country. With the board’s upcoming decision, the NHIA aims to roll out sustainable dialysis care nationwide.