Permanent dialysis coverage in NHIS - The Daily Statesman Newspaper

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has assured Ghanaians that dialysis treatment will be permanently included in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). The NHIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, made this announcement during the opening of the NHIA’s new district office in Kpandai, Northern Region, where he addressed a gathering of traditional leaders, religious leaders, local government officials, and community members.

Dr. Aboagye said actuarial analyses had deemed the inclusion of dialysis into the NHIS feasible and sustainable, underscoring the government’s commitment to delivering equitable healthcare services to all Ghanaians.

“We are pleased to announce that dialysis will be made a permanent feature under the NHIS. After performing due diligence, we realized this initiative can be maintained sustainably, and it aligns with our goal of ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing quality healthcare,” Dr. Aboagye said.

The opening of the Kpandai office marked the tenth district office Dr. Aboagye had inaugurated since taking office in April. Earlier, he opened offices in Suaman, Juaboso, and Damongo in the Western North and Savannah regions, respectively. The latest upgrade converts Kpandai’s former satellite office into a full district office, falling under the jurisdiction of the Northern Regional Office of the NHIA.

Community enthusiasm

The people of Kpandai welcomed this upgrade with loud applause, expressing their gratitude to Dr. Aboagye and the government. Their enthusiastic response was marked by shouts of praise, including titles such as “action man” and “adwumawura,” in appreciation of the new opportunities the district office promises to bring.

Dr. Aboagye highlighted the NHIA’s recent achievements and commitments, explaining that the decision to cover dialysis followed a six-month pilot program. During this period, the NHIS absorbed the costs of up to eight dialysis sessions per month for patients under 18 and above 60 years of age, while covering two sessions for patients aged 18 to 59.

The measure was initially introduced as a corporate social responsibility initiative to relieve the burden on patients while a permanent solution was explored. Following a full actuarial study, the NHIA is now confident that it can permanently absorb the cost of dialysis treatments. Healthcare stakeholders have hailed this move as a significant leap forward in improving access to essential health services.

Expanding coverage

Dr. Aboagye’s address in Kpandai comes as part of the NHIA’s broader efforts to modernize and expand Ghana’s healthcare system. He emphasised that the inclusion of dialysis in the NHIS, along with mental health services scheduled to be added on November 1, 2024, signifies a transformative moment for Ghana’s healthcare sector.

“The NHIA is committed to improving health outcomes in this country by continually enhancing access to affordable healthcare. The inclusion of dialysis, mental health services, and our plans to further integrate NHIS with Ghana Card registration, reflect our government’s commitment to leaving no one behind,” he added.

Since Dr. Aboagye assumed office, the NHIA has increased its active membership to 17.8 million by the end of 2023, up from 10 million in 2015, with a projection of 20.8 million members in the coming months. Additionally, the NHIA has cleared historic debts, disbursing over GHS 800 million in claims payments in the past month alone, with an additional GHS 300 million in October.

Modernization efforts

Dr. Aboagye also reiterated the NHIA’s efforts to combat co-payments—instances where patients are charged for services and medications already covered by the NHIS. He credited the government for reversing the crippling debt inherited in 2017, which had resulted in year-long delays in payments to health facilities.

He pointed to the introduction of the E-Pharmacy initiative, which will ensure that patients can obtain prescribed medications from credentialed pharmacies or have them delivered through the National Property Addressing System.

Thw Northern Regional Minister Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, in a speech read on his behalf, lauded the opening of new district offices, such as the one in Kpandai, describing it as a monumental achievement. He commended the NHIA for strengthening healthcare infrastructure and expanding service delivery across the region.

“This initiative is a testament to the government’s relentless efforts to ensure quality healthcare for all. The new district offices, equipped with the necessary resources, will be crucial in meeting the health needs of the people,” the Minister stated.