The Minority in Parliament is calling for an immediate reversal of the recent increase in charges for dialysis treatment in public hospitals.
The Fees and Charges regulation has raised the price from GH₵380 to GH₵491, causing concern among kidney patients who may struggle to afford the life-saving treatment.
Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has urged the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, to review the regulation to prevent any loss of lives. During discussions at the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, the Ministry of Finance was advised to waive taxes on reagents and medications instead of increasing the cost of dialysis.
Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, emphasized the urgency of revising the charges to prevent more deaths due to unaffordable treatment costs. He pointed out the high prevalence of renal disease in the country and stressed the need for immediate action to address the issue.
On the other hand, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, highlighted the NHIA’s allocation of GH₵2 million to support those in need of dialysis treatment. He suggested exploring options to mitigate the cost increase, such as potentially moving the service to the NHIA.
Overall, the call for a review of the increased dialysis charges is essential to ensure that all patients have access to the critical treatment they require. The Health Committee and relevant authorities are urged to work swiftly to find a solution to this pressing issue.
