The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has dispelled concerns that the free dialysis policy may be at risk before its launch.

According to the authority, it is expediting arrangements to provide additional dialysis machines to facilities participating in the policy rollout.

NHIA CEO, Dr Dacosta Aboagye, confirmed that the World Bank has already approved funding to ensure a smooth rollout, aiming to save hundreds of patients.

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This reassurance comes after the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), one of the major referral centers, expressed concerns over insufficient resources to implement the policy.

In an interview with JoyNews, KATH Deputy Medical Director, Dr Yaw Opare Larbi explained that the hospital currently has only seven functional machines and urgently needs more.

“We are hoping that the government will support us. This has been done recently. I think I can mention Korle Bu, who were given 30 dialysis machines,” he said.

“And we have seven, and if you look at the number of patients we see in our catchment area, we certainly need more help.”

He added that the hospital’s workload would worsen without additional machines.

However, NHIA’s Dr Dacosta Aboagye reassured that plans are already underway to equip KATH and other facilities with additional machines, ensuring a smooth launch in December.

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“Let me assure Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital that there should be no cause for alarm. About two months ago, they brought a request to the NHIS for equipment support, and we wrote a proposal to the World Bank.

"That proposal, as we speak, has been approved and is currently with the PPA. Once we get the PPA letter, we'll be procuring some dialysis machines, and Komfo Anokye, Effia Nkwanta, and a few other centers will be beneficiaries. So they shouldn't worry at all,” he stated.

Dr Aboagye highlighted that the procurement of these machines is part of a larger government strategy, noting that under the Agenda 111 initiative, dialysis centers will be established to ensure people do not have to travel far for treatment.

“It’s a comprehensive programme that is going to be rolled out by the government, and I believe that the facilities will be able to cope with it,” he added.

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Meanwhile, Dr Aboagye announced that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has cleared a legacy debt of GH₵1.2 billion inherited in 2017.

Addressing the Ghana Medical Association, he stated that the scheme is now financially stable and well-positioned to fulfill its mandate effectively.