By Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, has refuted claims suggesting that Parliament endorsed the new fees for dialysis treatment introduced by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
Contrary to these assertions, the Member of Parliament for Joaboso clarified that the house had actually advocated for the exemption of taxes on regents for dialysis.
This clarification comes amidst the recent implementation of revised fees for dialysis treatment by the hospital. Formerly priced at GH¢380, the cost has now risen to GH¢491.
He emphasized that the House had advocated for the removal of taxes on dialysis regents, rather than endorsing higher charges for patients.
Mr. Akandoh assured prompt action, stating that Parliament would take the necessary measures to swiftly reverse the fee hike.
He stressed the significance of ensuring affordable healthcare access for all citizens, especially those requiring critical treatments like dialysis.
“We never agreed at the committee level that the cost of dialysis must be increased. What happened was that the Ministry of Finance must waive all taxes on the [regent] of dialysis. So, it came to me as a shock when all the media houses were calling to tell me that fees had been increased. I don’t get it.
“Then, when you talk about that they make it sound as though parliament that has done some proposal and has gone ahead to approve it,” he said.
Statistics show that nearly 1,300 Ghanaians undergo dialysis, with renal patients requiring approximately 12 sessions per month. Given the recent increase in the cost of dialysis from GH₵380 to GHS491 per session, a patient would now need nearly GHS6,000 per month for the complete treatment regimen.
NHIA to introduce 6-month dialysis assistance starting June 1 – CEO announces
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Aboagye Da-Costa, has disclosed that his organization will launch its planned assistance for dialysis treatment on June 1. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, May 15, Dr. Da-Costa highlighted that the support would span the next six months.
This initiative comes in the wake of Parliament’s approval of GH₵2 million to aid patients in need of dialysis across different regions of the country.
