Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa, CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority, has disclosed that the government will soon release GH¢2 million that was authorized by Parliament to help those in need of dialysis therapy.
The monies were authorized in March of this year in response to a request for government assistance made by renal sufferers due to an increase in the cost of dialysis.
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital raised the cost of dialysis on Monday from GH¢380 to GH¢491, a move that some members of Parliament’s Select Committee on Health have called unconstitutional.
Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa is optimistic that some relief would be provided by the payout.
“We have made progress on dialysis. That committee that was set up to implement the disbursement has concluded its report and I can say that within the next few weeks, we will begin the disbursement to the various hospitals”, he revealed.
“What was approved by Parliament was for the needy, this will supplement for patients in Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye and the Cape Coast hospital,” he added.
In order to fund the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and allow it to carry out its annual operations, Parliament granted GH¢6.87 billion in March.
The House also adopted the 2024 allocation formula, which provides emergency assistance for financially struggling dialysis patients for the first time.
When a committee appointed to assess the actuarial model of absorbing the illness on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) concludes its work, more funds for dialysis will be made available.
Dr. DaCosta also disclosed that the group charged with examining the real-world financial effects of dialysis on claims budget, taking sustainability measures into account, had turned in its findings and suggestions.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com