The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced the release of GH¢200 million for the payment of claims to health facilities nationwide. The amount covers claims submitted and vetted for the months of September and October 2024.
The NHIA’s prompt payments regime, introduced earlier this year, has been instrumental in maintaining a debt-free status for 2024, ensuring timely reimbursement to healthcare providers across the country.
This latest payment brings the total amount released by the NHIA over the last two months to GH¢1 billion, underscoring the Authority’s ongoing commitment to supporting healthcare providers and ensuring the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Free Dialysis Begins
The NHIA also announced the official commencement of the national free dialysis programme on December 1, 2024, in NHIA-credentialed facilities.
All participating facilities have received letters of commencement, ensuring the smooth implementation of this critical service.
Of the 40 facilities involved, 20 are ready to start providing free dialysis services on December 1, 2024, while the others are still preparing to come on board.
This initiative follows a successful six-month pilot phase, and is set to benefit approximately 1,200 patients nationwide. The free dialysis programme is estimated to cost GH¢57 million annually.
Each eligible patient will receive eight dialysis sessions per month at any private or public NHIA-credentialed facility, at a cost of GH¢491 per session. As was done during the pilot phase, should any patient be charged for dialysis services, the facility will be required to refund the full amount to the patient.
To enhance this initiative, the government, in partnership with the World Bank, has secured 45 dialysis machines nationwide.
Seven of these machines have already been delivered, 23 are currently being cleared, and 15 additional machines have been ordered. Each batch of 15 machines comes with 2,000 sets of consumables, totalling 6,000 sets for the entire 45 machines.
The programme is being rolled out in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including 40 facility heads, dialysis unit leaders, the Private Health Association, and the leadership of the Dialysis Patient Group.
The NHIA expressed its gratitude for the dedication and cooperation of healthcare providers, stakeholders, and patient leaders who have played a crucial role in the successful pilot and the national rollout of the free dialysis programme.
“The NHIA remains committed to ensuring the availability of quality healthcare services for all Ghanaians, and we will continue to work collaboratively with all partners to build a sustainable and efficient healthcare system,” it said.
A Daily Guide Report