Despite the National Health Insurance Authoritys (NHIA) announcement that renal patients below 18 and above 60 would receive all eight dialysis sessions per month free, and patients between 19 and 59 years would receive two free dialysis sessions per month, effective June 1, patients at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital remain skeptical.

 

Patients who paid GHS 491.00 for their dialysis treatment on Monday, June 3, have been assured of reimbursement by the NHIA, but many doubt this will happen.

 

One patient expressed concern that the money has already been absorbed into the system, making reimbursement unlikely.

 

“The money has already gone into the system so I am not sure they would be refunded. The only thing I think they can do is that since they said they will be giving out two sessions, June is so young so they can say maybe next week, all the two sessions I should not pay for. I think that will be the way but for the refund, I am not sure. It is not easy unless I have 600 cedis before I can come for one session.”

 

Another patient, who has been doing only one session per week due to financial constraints, appealed to the government to share the cost of the sessions with patients, as the current assistance is not enough.

 

“It was this morning I was told that people aged 15 and below 59 years would enjoy free dialysis sessions per month, regardless, I paid for my session today. I am required to do two sessions every week, however, I cannot afford so since January, I have been doing only one session. I came every Thursday.”

 

“The doctor tells me that the one session is weakening me and by December, I may have to use a wheelchair. If the government wants to help us, it can share the cost of the sessions with us.”

 

The spokesperson for the Renal Patients Association, Kojo Baffour Ahenkora, while appreciative of the NHIAs assistance, emphasised the need for the government to subsidise the cost and purchase new dialysis machines beyond December.

 

Sources at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital revealed that the facility has not received a directive from the Ministry of Health and will only cease collecting the dialysis cost of GHS 491.00 when it receives official instruction.

 

Patients continue to appeal for more support, including subsidised treatment costs and additional dialysis machines.