Subsidy For Kidney Disease Patients In The Offing – Health Minister
The Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has disclosed that the government is considering subsidizing the cost of dialysis for persons suffering from kidney diseases.
This follows complaints by the Renal Patients Association of Ghana about the cost of dialysis and treatment of kidney diseases at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and other public health facilities.
The minister, who was speaking at the 50th anniversary and annual Congress of Medical Laboratory Scientists, said broad consultations are ongoing to solve the dialysis crisis.
“I have reported to cabinet, and cabinet is expecting a proposal from me. This morning, as I came to this function, I met with the Kidney Association of Ghana, and we are all talking and working on certain things,” the minister said.
He added, “Yesterday, I met with some parliamentarians and we are soliciting views. We will either put it on the health insurance, or the government finds subsidy to bring it down, and we are probably even looking at health insurance nomenclature to see how best we can solve that,” he said.
Hinting at the recent shortage of anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS patients, the health minister said the issues will be addressed.
He said a committee will be set up to investigate what led to the shortage of anti-retroviral drugs.