The much-awaited free treatment for dialysis patients as promised by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has taken off in NHIA-credentialled facilities across the country, the Chief Executive of the authority, Dr DaCosta Aboagye has disclosed.
Similarly, the authority has also released GH¢200 million for the payment of claims to health facilities nationwide.
The amount, according to him, covers claims submitted and vetted for the months of September and October 2024.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Dr Aboagye over the weekend copied The Ghanaian Times said the NHIA’s prompt payments regime, introduced earlier this year, has been instrumental in maintaining a debt-free status for 2024, ensuring timely reimbursement to healthcare providers across the country.
“This latest payment brings the total amount released by the NHIA over the last two months to GH¢1 billion, underscoring the Authority’s ongoing commitment to supporting healthcare providers and ensuring the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The NHIA is also excited to announce the official commencement of the national free dialysis programme today, December 1, 2024, in NHIA-credentialled facilities,” it said.
All participating facilities have received letters of commencement, ensuring the smooth implementation of this critical service.
Of the 40 facilities involved, the NHIA boss said, 20 were ready while the others were still preparing to come on board.
This important initiative follows a successful six-month pilot phase and is set to benefit approximately 1,200 patients nationwide. The free dialysis programme is estimated to cost GH¢57 million annually.
Each eligible patient will receive eight dialysis sessions per month at any private or public NHIA-credentialled facility, at a cost of GH¢491 per session. As was done during the pilot phase, should any patient be charged for dialysis services, the facility will be required to refund the full amount to the patient.
To enhance this initiative, the government, in partnership with the World Bank, has secured 45 dialysis machines nationwide. Seven of these machines have already been delivered, 23 are currently being cleared, and 15 additional machines have been ordered. Each batch of 15 machines comes with 2,000 sets of consumables, totalling 6,000 sets for the entire 45 machines. More of such facilities will be procured in the coming years to ensure continued service delivery to patients.
It named the health facilities ready to start providing free dialysis services as the Hart Adventist Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Bantama Firstcare Hospital all in the Ashanti Region, Berekum Holy Family Hospital at Berekum in the Bono Region, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in the Central Regional and the Eastern Regional Hospital in the Eastern Region.
The others are the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, 37 Military Hospital, and Newtown Islamic Hospital Limited, Police Hospital, the Trust Hospital, Ridge Regional Hospital, International Maritime Hospital all in the Greater Accra Region.
The rest are the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Bolga Regional Hospital, Upper West Regional Hospital, Volta Regional Hospital, Hohoe Hospital, Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta and Western regions.
BY TIMES REPORTER
