The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) will double its dialysis machines from the current seven to 14 through strategic partnerships and the facility’s internally generated funds.
The hospital has alleviated the plight of kidney patients who previously had to rely on just two dialysis machines.
Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, stated that the additional installations come at a time when monthly dialysis sessions have increased from 80 to 300.
“The hospital has just received two new dialysis machines from the Ghana Airport Company Limited, adding to the existing seven, while six additional machines purchased with IGF at a cost of 2.8 million cedis are expected to be installed by the end of November,” he explained.
He further stated, “With this improvement, the hospital has enhanced clinical services for renal patients, who are now able to access dialysis services thanks to the highly commendable free dialysis care introduced by the government through the National Health Insurance Authority.”
Last year, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital referred some patients to private facilities due to insufficient dialysis equipment.
Although the facility received referrals from various parts of the country, it initially had only two machines for patients in need of dialysis.
The piloting of a free dialysis program under the National Health Insurance Scheme has contributed to the increased demand for dialysis sessions at the hospital.
While the number of dialysis machines has increased significantly, the hospital maintains that more equipment is needed to meet the growing demand.
The CEO of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, explained ongoing efforts to retool some facilities with dialysis machines.
“We have applied through the Public Procurement Authority, and we expect to hear from them soon. We have submitted a request to procure more dialysis machines to retool the facilities so they can deliver on the mandate we have given them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NHIA has assured its preparedness to fund the full implementation of the free dialysis program.
KATH recently held a Management-Senior Specialists/Consultants Consultative Forum as part of efforts to improve services for care seekers.
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