The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has made payments totaling GH₵1 million to hospitals under the free dialysis intervention of the health insurance scheme.

This includes advance payment for September and arrears for the months of July and August 2024.

The six service providers include the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Efia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH), Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH), Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

Out of the six health facilities, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital received the highest amount of 186,670.00 in the latest disbursement.

With the fund disbursement, it is expected that all patients who may have paid out-of-pocket during the month of July and August will be fully reimbursed according to the approved amount for the various categories.

Since the inception of the program in June, accessibility of dialysis services for patients has increased in various regions of the country.

The programme of the NHIA ensures patients aged below 18 and those above 60 years will receive all eight free dialysis sessions per month with persons aged 19 to 59 years receiving two dialysis sessions per month except those at KBTH.

Adult Patients aged 19 to 59 receiving treatment at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital will receive a subsidy for two dialysis sessions per month, meaning the NHIA will cover 50% of the cost of the two sessions.

Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Aboagye Dacosta, has emphasized the commitment of the Authority to the free dialysis program.

“This comprehensive funding reflects the NHIA's commitment to supporting patients in need of dialysis, thereby ensuring that essential medical services remain accessible without financial burden,” he said.

The total amount allocated to the free dialysis program since its inception in June stands at GH¢1,588,565.00

Statistics from KATH shows, the Dialysis Centre at the hospital currently records over 300 sessions from about 80 sessions per month following intervention of the NHIA.

Management of the hospital is requesting about twenty-five dialysis machines to stock a newly renovated Dialysis Centre to meet the growing demand.

CEO, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah at the hospital’s mid-year performance review said “at the moment, the demand is so high that the engineers are not able to service the machines as expected because they are constantly under use”.

The hospital has managed to revitalize the operations of its Dialysis Centre from less than two machines at the beginning of 2023 to seven at the end of May 2024, thus helping to expand critical dialysis care to kidney patients in Ashanti Region and beyond.

“The additional machines include the acquisition of three new ones that were procured at the cost of Ghc1.6m from the IGF of the hospital. Two refurbished ones were also donated by the Springfield Group which has promised to donate three more,” he added.

Prof. Addai-Mensah is expecting the donation of other equipment to enhance the operation of the centre.

“Though two new and three refurbished machines are expected to be donated by the Ghana Airport Company and the Springfield Group respectively, the hospital is in dire need of additional machines to fully meet the needs of patients hence the need for the government and the public to support,” he stated.