Research Fellow on the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr Kwame Sarpong Asiedu, has known as for a broader stakeholder engagement on the present dialysis disaster somewhat than the ad-hoc method adopted.
According to him, the federal government’s short-term method to addressing the problems regarding end-stage kidney sufferers was unsustainable, and if care just isn’t taken, the renal centre could be worse off.
Speaking on JoyInformation’ The Pulse on May 15, he mentioned “The NHIA should discover a means of funding itself however it should include sufficient funding in any other case if they don’t have sufficient funding, what will occur is that they may fail to pay the suppliers and the suppliers will then not be capable to present a service on the NHIS.
“We must have a broader dialog round persistent illness typically in Ghana and the way we fund our well being system as a result of if we have now that broader dialog and we have now the funding priorities proper, we’d not be having these spot dialog.
“Today is renal dialysis, I know there are issues when it comes to chemotherapy in cancer, there are issues elsewhere. We do not need to be firefighting. We need to have a broader conversation and put our health system on a better footing,” he mentioned.
His feedback comply with the revelation by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Aboagye Da-Costa, that his outfit will start its supposed help for dialysis remedy on June 1.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, May 15, Dr Da-Costa famous that the help could 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 elements of the nation.
But, Dr Sarpong argues that this method is unsustainable, stressing the necessity for the federal government to set its priorities proper.
“That is why, I’m attempting to say that we all know our issues, we simply don’t prioritise them as a result of they don’t drive roads and the factor I hold telling everyone is while you get renal illness and also you get to end-stage, nobody cares whether or not you might be NPP or NDC or CPP. You will face the music your self
“So you need to be having a conversation that encompasses a health crisis but what do you do? If you went on social media now and you put this up, you will see us divide ourselves long party lines arguing and that is why we are not solving our problem,” he mentioned.
He suggested that till Ghanaians put apart politicisation, it could be difficult to carry authorities accountable.
“…and therefore we do not put them under pressure. So they get away with digging pits and saying that you will pay allawa [sic] in two years because that is what people will shout about not the fact that every child dies when they get renal pain that is not a priority,” he added.
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