The management of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has expressed its readiness to implement the free dialysis policy, but stated that it is awaiting an official letter from the Ministry of Health on the matter.
While the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has declared that nobody below the age of 18 or above 60 years will pay for their session starting June 1, they are still paying full charges.
The news was welcomed, especially for dialysis patients considering the approximate amount they need to pay to receive the particular service.
“Yes, the announcement has been made, and we are all excited because we see how patients struggle to continuously pay for the dialysis. Some do not even come for sessions due to financial constraints,” Dr Yaw Opare Larbi, Deputy Medical Director of KATH explained.
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“So, before we commit our resources to this important activity, we need to receive directives from the Ministry of Health on modalities, then we can go ahead.”
The hospital has doubled its number of dialysis machines to seven and expects to get more in the following days.
“We are looking at getting a total of 20 dialysis machines by the end of the year, so we are fully prepared for the policy”, said Dr Larbi.
The management of KATH has, however, stated that it may refund the patients, if the expected official letter shows that the policy starts from June 1.
