Minority demands reversal of dialysis fee hike

The Minority in Parliament is calling for the immediate reversal of the recent increment in the cost of dialysis treatment in public hospitals.

Following the passage of the Fees and Charges regulation, the cost of dialysis ballooned from GH₵380 to GH₵491, leaving kidney patients' fate hanging in a balance.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, urged the Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, to urgently review the regulation to save lives.

Akandoh noted that during the Subsidiary Legislation Committee deliberations, the Chairman informed him that the Ministry of Finance had been advised to waive taxes on reagents and medications rather than increase the cost of dialysis. He clarified that the Ministry did not indicate whether they would consider the committee's suggestions.

"Mr. Speaker, I am not oblivious to Article 11(7) (a)(b)(c). If we really want to reject such a regulation, we need two-thirds of Parliament to do so. As a matter of urgency, I call on the Minister responsible for Finance to amend this act because people already cannot afford the 380 cedis," he said.

The Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, warned that if the charges are not reviewed, more people will die because they cannot afford the already expensive treatment.

"We are told renal disease prevalence in our country is about 13%, and sadly, the majority of people don't survive it. It's a serious matter. Mr. Speaker, we should encourage the relevant committee to ensure these increases, which have come at the wrong time, are reversed," he stated.

Meanwhile, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, expressed satisfaction with the NHIA's significant allocation of GH₵2 million to assist the needy for treatment.