Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has denied solutions that Parliament endorsed the brand new charges for dialysis therapy launched by the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
Contrary to those claims, the Joaboso Member of Parliament defined that the home had as an alternative advocated for the exemption of taxes on the regents for dialysis.
This clarification is available in response to the latest implementation of revised charges for dialysis therapy by the hospital. Previously priced at GH¢380, the fee has now surged to GH¢491.
The Renal Patients Association of Ghana has expressed concern over this hike, citing the extra monetary burden it locations on sufferers who have been already struggling to handle the earlier payments.
According to the affiliation, even the earlier value was difficult for sufferers to afford, usually requiring help from family and friends to cowl the bills.
The new charges exacerbate their monetary pressure, making it more and more troublesome for them to entry important medical care.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Tuesday, May 14, Mr. Akandoh emphasised that Parliament didn’t sanction the elevated charges imposed by the hospital.
He reiterated that the House had advocated for eradicating taxes on dialysis regents, not for implementing increased prices for sufferers.
Assuring swift motion, Mr Akandoh acknowledged that Parliament would take the mandatory steps to make sure a reversal of the hike at once.
He underscored the significance of reasonably priced healthcare entry for all residents, notably these in want of essential remedies comparable to dialysis.
“We by no means agreed on the committee degree that the price of dialysis should be elevated. What occurred was that the Ministry of Finance should waive all taxes on the [regent] of dialysis. So, it got here to me as a shock when all of the media homes have been calling to inform me that charges had been elevated. I don’t get it.
“Then, when you talk about that they make it sound as though parliament that has done some proposal and has gone ahead to approve it,” he stated.
According to statistics, practically 1,300 Ghanaians are on dialysis, and a renal affected person requires about 12 periods of dialysis a month. With the price of GH₵380 per dialysis elevated to GHS491, a affected person will want practically GHS6,000 a month for the complete session.
NHIA to implement 6-month dialysis help on June 1 – CEO reveals
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Aboagye Da-Costa, has revealed that his outfit will begin its supposed help for dialysis therapy on June 1. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, May 15, Dr Da-Costa famous that the help can be applied for the following six months.
This initiative follows the approval of GH₵2 million by Parliament to help sufferers requiring dialysis in numerous components of the nation.
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