The Member of Parliament for Juaboso, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has criticized the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) recent proposal to provide free dialysis treatment under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), calling the move “belated” and suggesting it is a last-minute ploy for electoral gain.
His remarks follow an announcement made by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s presidential candidate, who declared that from December 1, 2024, dialysis would be covered by NHIS for all eligible patients.
As the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Hon. Akandoh expressed scepticism over the timing of the initiative, noting it was introduced just 25 days ahead of the December 7 general election. He argued that, although commendable, the policy is long overdue, given the recent dialysis crisis that exposed significant gaps in the healthcare system for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Bawumia announced the policy during a stakeholder meeting in the Old Tafo Pankrono Constituency in the Ashanti Region, following a six-month pilot program that provided free dialysis to patients under 18 and those over 60. However, Hon. Akandoh criticized the government’s delayed response, questioning why such an initiative was not introduced earlier when the need for accessible dialysis was widely discussed in Ghana.“Renal health issues did not start today.
The government has had years to address the escalating dialysis costs and the strain on patients, yet they waited until now to act. This promise of free dialysis is no more than an attempt to woo voters,” Hon. Akandoh argued.
He further noted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had long advocated for dialysis support in its 2020 manifesto. “At a point, I was practically the lone voice pushing for reforms in dialysis treatment access. The vice president was here in Ghana, and he remained silent. Now, with elections only weeks away, he finally decides to step in? It’s too late to make an impact,” he lamented.
Hon. Akandoh went on to question whether the NPP government could genuinely implement the policy, expressing doubts about the feasibility of sustaining such a costly healthcare promise.
He asserted that the NPP’s chances of re-election are slim, and as a result, the policy could falter before it even takes full effect. Confident in the prospects of the NDC’s presidential candidate, former President John Mahama, he suggested that a Mahama administration would better address the needs of chronically ill patients through the planned Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares).
This fund, he claimed, would provide comprehensive healthcare support for individuals with chronic conditions beyond kidney disease.“This is the vision we need, a long-term commitment that goes beyond election-year promises,” Hon. Akandoh declared.
“With the MahamaCares initiative, we’re looking at a sustainable, inclusive healthcare plan that will transform lives. The NDC has had this commitment in our agenda for years, and we’re ready to act—not just promise—if given the mandate.”
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson
