The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) intends to support some major health facilities with more machines to ensure quality healthcare services when the ‘free dialysis’ program is fully rolled out on December 1, 2024.  

The Chief Executive, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye made the pronouncement at a consultative forum organized by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

He said the Authority had secured funding from the World Bank for the project which will be done through the Public Procurement regulations.

“We have applied through the Public Procurement Authority, and soon we will hear from them. We have submitted to them to procure more dialysis machines to retool the facilities in such a way that they will be able to deliver on the mandate we have given them.” 

He emphasized that the machines procurement is part of government’s grand strategy, saying, “Under the Agenda 111 initiative, dialysis centers will be established to ensure people do not have to travel far for treatment.”

According to Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye, the Authority is reviewing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) medicine tariffs to correspond with the unpredictable market controls by pharmaceutical companies.

The NHIA Boss highlighted key initiatives such as expansion of the NHIS Benefit Package encompassing promotive and preventive health, Annual Health checks, the four new mental health conditions, the E-Pharmacy Platform, NHIS and Ghana Cards for children aged 6-14, mandatory health insurance for all visitors to Ghana and Telehealth Services.

He called for concerted efforts to strengthen the country's healthcare delivery, heightening the need to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

The KATH Chief Executive Officer, Professor Otchere Addai- Mensah, commended the NHIA for taking steps to support the hospital to realize its fullest potential.

The Head of Psychiatric Unit at KATH, Ms. Ruth Owusu-Antwi applauded the inclusion of the four mental disorders in the NHIS Benefit Package. 

“This will help reduce stigmatization and cost of treatment for patients and I urge all to take advantage of the initiative to seek proper mental healthcare.”

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah