A board member of the Asaase Foundation, Gabby Otchere Darko, has urged the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to subsidize the cost of kidney transplants for Ghanaians.
“We are focused on kidney care because we believe there are so many areas the state needs support from individuals, companies and institutions, but we think kidney care is so critical”
Gabby Otchere Darko, who is also the chairman of Asaase Radio, made this call during the handover of six dialysis machines to some regional hospitals in the country.
The Asaase Foundation is a foundation seeking to rewrite the story of kidney healthcare in Ghana by bringing hope to patients and families to build a healthier future for all.
Last year, the foundation donated three dialysis machines to the Upper West regional hospital, the Sunyani regional hospital, and the Tarkwa Hospital, and as part of the third anniversary of the Accra-based Asaase radio station, the foundation has donated six more machines.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko recounted how an employee went through the stress of getting a kidney transplant.
“We do not have the capacity as a nation to undertake kidney transplant, and it costs a lot even for those who can afford it abroad”, he said
He, therefore, pleaded with the Ghana Health Service and the National Health Insurance Authority to take a critical look at it and, with the limited resources as a nation, make it affordable to Ghanaians who need the treatment.
Gabby Otchere Darko also added that the Asaase Foundation will continue to create awareness, support, treat and create a unique sense of hope.
“Asaase’s care in kidney care is not just about changing statistics, it is about touching people and making every Ghanaian believe they deserve the chance to thrive”.
The Chief Executive of the NHIA, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye who was present at the ceremony thanked the Asaase Foundation for its continuous support for healthcare in the country.
Dr. Okoe-Boye disclosed that, currently the NHIS covers dialysis for acute cases only but not chronic renal failure.
“In keeping with our mandate of providing financial risk protection against the cost of health care for residents in Ghana, we hope that as our resources improve, we shall consider adding the chronic case to our benefits package after having done the necessary studies”, Dr. Okoe-Boye emphasized.
Beneficiaries of this year’s donation were the Bono, Volta, Upper East, Greater Accra, Obuasi and Western North regional hospitals.
