Member of Parliament for Juaboso Constituency and Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has charged government to come out with a clear-cut plan on how it will continue the payment for dialysis treatment for patients.

This comes after the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) said it will take the full cost of dialysis treatment for patients below 18 years, and above 60 years, and provide subsidy for persons between ages of 19 and 59.

Speaking to JoyNews, the NDC MP said government must come clean on the way forward after the 6 months subsidy.

"We use money on unnecessary things. We dig a whole hole and spend money on it in the name of cathedral and yet we cannot take care of people suffering from renal challenges. What is it that is above the country? So they are simply not ready and this comprehensive plan must come from the government because the health of the people is the wealth of the country, and the health of the people must always be prioritised,"he stressed.

This follows an announcement by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) regarding the commencement of a six-month free dialysis support programme for renal patients from June to December 2024.

The support, as explained in a statement released by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) dated June 1, has been divided into two categories – vulnerable groups [patients aged below 18 and above 60] and persons aged 18 to 59 years.

According to the Scheme, “patients under 18 and above 60 years will receive all eight free dialysis per sessions per month” with a cumulative cost estimated to be approximately GH₵ 2.3 million.

It added that “patients from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital (EFRH), Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH), and Tamale Teaching Hospital will receive two dialysis sessions per month at GH₵ 982.00 that is GH₵491 per session.”

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“The cost of dialysis for this treatment category [persons aged 18 to 59 years] is projected to be GH₵144,354 per month and by the end of December 2024, the cumulative cost is estimated to be approximately GH₵ 1.01 million.”

Although renal patients from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KATH) will not be beneficiaries of the above, they will also receive a subsidy for two dialysis sessions per month at GH₵491.

This, NHIA explained, is due to a philanthropic gesture of GH₵380.00 being offered to renal patients.

It further noted that the initiative will cost GH ₵4.4 million and reiterated the government's commitment to finding sustainable interventions to deal with renal diseases and other illnesses not currently covered.

Touching on this, Mr Mintah Akandoh said the National Health Insurance Fund generates enough revenue to support the payment of dialysis treatment for patients.

"So the taxes that we take from the people and the loans that we go for, what are we using those loans for?

"In any case, this whole National Health Insurance Fund has been capped. Government is taking a reasonable amount. From 2018 till now, government has taken about six billion Ghana cedis and when we are looking at the mathematics for dialysis patients, we are looking at about 15 million Ghana cedis per year.

"So we need something very comprehensive than what we are looking at now," he added.