NHIA announces Free Dialysis Program for young people and aged in Ghana

Beginning this month, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) will offer eight free dialysis treatments per month to individuals under 18 and over 60 suffering from kidney disorders.

This initiative, part of NHIA’s 20th anniversary celebrations, will run through December 2024.
Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, Acting CEO of NHIA, stated that this effort is integral to their anniversary activities.

In a statement to the press, the NHIA says, the government and parliament of Ghana have approved GH¢2,000,000.00 as part of NHIA’s 2024 Allocation Formula to aid financially disadvantaged and vulnerable patients requiring dialysis.

In addition, NHIA has allocated GH¢2,400,000.00 from its Corporate Social Responsibility budget to support this critical health initiative.

The monthly cost of dialysis for eligible patients is expected to be GH¢329,952, with overall expenditure by December 2024 projected to reach approximately GH¢2.3 million.

The statement also mentioned that patients aged 18 to 59 at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Ho Teaching Hospital, and Tamale Teaching Hospital will receive a subsidy, excluding those at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

This subsidy provides two dialysis sessions each month, totaling GH¢982.00, or GH¢491 per session.

From the statement, KBTH patients will receive a monthly subsidy covering two dialysis sessions at a reduced rate of GH¢245.50 per session, which is 50% off the usual price of GH¢491.00.

This discount is made possible by a generous contribution of GH¢380.00 per patient, aiming to ensure cost fairness across all medical facilities.