Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has revealed that the NPP government’s much-publicized free dialysis program lacked the necessary dedicated funding to ensure its long-term sustainability.
According to Akandoh, the program was introduced with good intentions, but the lack of specific financial backing from the previous government severely hampered its ability to reach all those in need. The free dialysis program, which aims to provide life-saving treatment to individuals suffering from kidney failure, was seen as a major step towards improving healthcare accessibility for the underprivileged. However, Akandoh pointed out that, without a steady dedicated budget, the initiative has faced challenges in maintaining consistent service delivery across the country.
“The free dialysis program was a commendable initiative by the previous government, but unfortunately, it was never supported by the necessary long-term funding plan. As a result, its sustainability has been in question from the very beginning. Without a dedicated budget, it has been difficult to maintain the program effectively.”
The Health Minister emphasized that while the program made a positive impact in the short term, the lack of financial commitment has led to difficulties in providing continuous dialysis treatment to all eligible patients. Some healthcare facilities have reported a shortage of supplies and a backlog of patients waiting for treatment, putting additional strain on an already overburdened healthcare system.
Akandoh further stated that the current government is committed to addressing the shortcomings of the program. He revealed that efforts are underway to implement a more sustainable and properly funded system that would guarantee access to dialysis services for all those in need.
“We recognize the importance of dialysis treatment for those with kidney failure, and we are determined to ensure that every Ghanaian who requires it has access to it without financial burden. However, to do this, we need to have a clear, sustainable funding plan that can support the program in the long term.”
Voice of Hon Mintah Akandoh
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