Govt will need between GH¢20 million and GH¢57 million annually to roll out free dialysis —NHIA boss

Dr. Aboagye Dacosta, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has revealed that based on the test scenario and data available to authorities, the government will require between GH¢24 million and GH¢57 million per year to successfully roll out the free dialysis initiative, which is scheduled to begin on December 1, 2024.

He emphasised that the initiative was not politically motivated and was implemented in collaboration with colleagues and the Vice President’s research team.

Speaking in an interview with Sir Richie on ‘As it is Ghana’ on Rainbow Radio 92.4FM, UK, he said, per the data available to them, that they gathered through the piloting of the free dialysis initiative for persons 60 years+ and below 18 years, and it emerged that 1,400 Ghanaians had end-stage kidney disease.

He said out of every one million Ghanaians, 24 of them were having end-stage kidney or renal disease.

He stated that the number of patients provided by the Association of Renal Patients was 700, but after the piloting, “we had a figure of 400 people on dialysis.The data show that the amount required for free dialysis can be generated through the National Health Insurance Scheme. The free dialysis initiative does not have a political agenda. It is a well-considered initiative. When undergoing dialysis, you must pay a fee of GH¢490. If you multiply that by 400 and the amount of treatment the patients require each month, they will need eight sessions, which will cost GH¢1.5 million.

Multiplying that by 12 months yields GH¢18 something million, which was rounded up to GH¢20 million. That’s the first category. This means that we will need at least GH¢20 million per year. In the second scenario, we doubled the patients. So, if you begin free dialysis and the number doubles (800), you will require GH¢3.2 million per month and GH¢39.6 million, rounded up to GH¢40 million per year.

That is when the numbers reach 800. We then tested the third scenario and discovered that if you triple the number, you will get 1,200 patients at GH¢4.7 million per month and GH¢56.7 million per year, rounded up to GH¢57 million. So it shows that if you want to roll out free dialysis for every Ghanaian, you’ll need at least GH¢20 million to GH¢57 million per year.”