Free Dialysis: An empty reactionary campaign gimmick

The recent pledge by Dr. Bawumia to provide free dialysis treatment for kidney patients starting December 1 is yet another empty, reactionary promise from a government that has persistently failed to address the healthcare needs of Ghanaians.

This promise has no credible policy framework, there is absolutely no reference to it in the NPP 2024 Manifesto, there is no allocation whatsoever in the 2024 National health Insurance Fund Allocation Formula, neither is there any necessary budgetary support provision in 2024 Budget prepared by the Economic Management Team headed by Dr Bawumia.

This hollow commitment, for all intents and purposes, is a deceptive attempt to win public favour in the lead-up to the elections.

The facts tell the story: the 2024 National Health Insurance Formula (NHIF) allocates a meagre GHS2 million to dialysis treatment, an amount added only after the Minority in Parliament demanded it as a condition for approving the formula.

This minimal allocation did not come from Dr. Bawumia or his government’s initiative but from the opposition NDC, advocating for the people’s healthcare needs. Earlier this year, in June, Dr. Bawumia made a campaign promise to provide limited dialysis support for kidney patients aged 18 and below and those aged 60 and above.

However, with no budgetary allocation, the commitment was clearly hollow. To cover for this glaring oversight, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) later announced to allocate a sizeable portion of its GHS3.24 million Corporate Social Responsibility budget toward dialysis treatment—a contribution that does little to address the full scale of need.

The restricted age bracket in Dr. Bawumia’s proposal would benefit fewer than 20% of those affected by renal failure. Even if the combined GHS5.24 million (the original GHS2 million allocation and the total NHIA CSR allocation of GHS3.24 million) were fully utilized, it would be grossly inadequate.

Currently, Ghana has approximately 1,200 patients requiring dialysis, with each patient needing three sessions weekly.
Covering just one month of treatment for these individuals would cost around GHS8.6 million, yet the 2024 budget includes no provisions to fund this need.

Where does Dr. Bawumia plan to secure these additional funds? Or does he expect healthcare providers to bear the upfront costs, waiting for reimbursement from a future government?

If Dr. Bawumia’s intentions were genuine, he and his economic management team would not have remained silent last year while the Korle Bu Renal Unit kept its doors shut over an outstanding GHS4 million bill for dialysis consumables. Countless
patients suffered and a reported 19 patients died due to the government’s inaction.

Now, during campaign season, Dr. Bawumia suddenly claims his administration can commit over GHS8.6 million to dialysis care—an insincere claim and a cruel deception.

This trend of unfulfilled promises is all too familiar. In 2020, the NPP demolished La General Hospital, promising a prompt reconstruction. Yet, it took until 2024 to even begin construction, depriving the community of critical healthcare services.

Similarly, this year, the government vowed to employ 15,000 nurses and midwives by October, but as of November, this promise remains unfulfilled. The proposal to start free dialysis care in public government hospitals from December 1 also demonstrates a lack of planning. A policy of this nature should include both public and private hospitals to avoid overwhelming public healthcare facilities with patients who opt to enjoy this new policy by government.

It is evident that Dr. Bawumia’s recent pledge to cover dialysis treatment is nothing more than a reaction to President John Dramani Mahama’s bold promise to fund dialysis and cancer treatment under the Mahama Cares program. Dr. Bawumia’s
desperation to match this commitment has led to erratic, kneejerk policies devoid of careful planning.

If the Dr Bawumia campaign wants to copy the 2024 NDC manifesto they should respectfully acknowledge the source. Plagiarism is a low standard for a campaign seeking to win the hearts and minds of Ghanaians.

The people of Ghana deserve leaders who prioritize their health and well-being—not those who exploit their suffering for political gain. Its time Ghanaians vote out Dr Bawumia and his government to end this nightmarish governance and vote in
the Nation Builder, John Dramani Mahama to revamp and completely transform the health sector.

Dr. Bawumia’s empty words and sloganeering cannot obscure the years of neglect and broken promises that define his tenure.

By Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (MP)
(Spokesperson on Health for the 2024 John Mahama Campaign, MP for Juaboso and Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health)

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