Effective December 1, 2024, government will provide free dialysis treatment for all kidney patients covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

For the sustenance of this initiative years to come, Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, has disclosed that an amount ranging from GHC20 million to GHC57 million will be needed.

He made this disclosure during an interview on JoyNews' AM Show on Monday. "The NHIS will need a minimum of about GHC20 million to GHC57 million annually for this dialysis programme," he said.

According to the NHIA, 24 out of every 1 million Ghanaians suffer from end-stage kidney disease. This translates to a prevalence rate of 1,250 patients per million population.

NHIA’s pilot programme launched earlier this year offered free dialysis for patients over 60 and under 18 years of age. Around 400 patients actively claiming benefits.

The programme, which aims to ease the financial burden of dialysis treatment, is part of the NHIA's broader efforts to provide accessible healthcare to those with chronic conditions.