|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Health Minister Criticizes Previous Government Over Inadequate Dialysis Funding
Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has condemned the previous administration for allocating only GH¢4 million to Ghana’s free dialysis programme, arguing that the amount is grossly insufficient to support patients nationwide.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on Thursday, March 13, Akandoh revealed that only GH¢2 million of the GH¢4 million allocation came directly from the government, while the remaining GH¢2 million was sourced from corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Expressing his concerns, Akandoh, who formerly served as the Ranking Member on the Health Committee of Parliament, lamented the country’s lack of a sustainable funding plan for dialysis treatment. He stressed that the GH¢4 million budgeted for dialysis services is inadequate, given the high cost of dialysis sessions, medical consumables, and patient care.
“I was a ranking member on the Health Committee of Parliament, and there were no sustainable sources of funding for dialysis. It never happened. We even suggested making provisions for dialysis, and they allocated GH¢2 million. And they had to go and take an additional GH¢2 million from corporate social responsibility. I can tell you, GH¢4 million cannot take care of dialysis in the whole country,” he stated.
Akandoh emphasized the urgent need for a reliable and long-term funding strategy, warning that simply adding all chronic diseases to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would overwhelm the system.
“So there needs to be a sustainable and a reliable source of funding. Look, if we decide to put all manner of diseases on the National Health Insurance Scheme, it will collapse. You have no idea how much it costs to treat heart disease or chronic diseases and surgeries,” he cautioned.
His remarks highlight the pressing need for a more robust approach to funding dialysis treatment and other critical healthcare services in Ghana.
Email Daily Mail GH: stories@dailymailgh.com or
Whatsapp: +233(0)509928122
