Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
Dr. Kwame Sarpong Asiedu, a fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, has expressed concerns over the National Health Insurance Scheme’s (NHIS) planned free dialysis treatment program, which is set to start on December 1.
He voiced conflicting opinions about the move in an appearance on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, describing it as “necessary and affordable” while also criticising the implementation’s delay.
“Recall that we talked about this in October of last year, and I was quite clear that this was both important and reasonably priced. Delays would unavoidably result in fatalities, hence there was no justification for them,” he said.
He stated that the policy could and ought to have been put into effect sooner, even though he is happy to see it finally happening.
His comments follow Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s introduction of the program to offer free dialysis to all renal patients covered by the NHIS.
Dr. Asiedu cited international norms to ask why Ghana had not acted sooner, given that “in most countries, renal dialysis is usually covered by insurance.”
He emphasised that dialysis is too expensive for people to pay for themselves.
Because it would undoubtedly bankrupt them, he continued, “I have not seen any country in the world where renal dialysis is paid for by patients directly.” I’m happy it’s being funded now because insurance always pays for it, but I still wonder why.
In his explanation of the frequency of renal disease in Ghana, Dr. Asiedu mentioned that an estimated 39 patients out of every million people in the country need dialysis annually.
He suggested, “Maybe private providers can be brought on board in a structured way, allowing a Funding Facility through NHIS, now that insurance will cover dialysis.”
Additionally, he stated that during the pilot, government hospitals already pre-financed dialysis treatments; he believes that other facilities will follow suit if the program is fully implemented.
The potential lives saved and the preventable misery brought on by the delay were at the heart of Dr. Asiedu’s position. “Lives could have been saved if the government had taken action sooner,” he stated.
Since last year, the figures have remained consistent at 34 to 39 per million. What would have made the wait worthwhile if there were the means to finance it? Dr. Asiedu asked, expressing his optimism that the government and health insurance will fulfil their promise to provide everyone with access to life-saving treatments.
