DIALYSIS CRISIS IN GHANA - DR HASSAN AYARIGA WANTS GOVERNMENT ABSORB TREATMENT COST, SCRAP TAXES ON MEDICAL CONSUMABLES

Asempa Dawuro

Oct 7, 2023 - 08:16

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DIALYSIS CRISIS IN GHANA - DR HASSAN AYARIGA WANTS GOVERNMENT ABSORB TREATMENT COST, SCRAP TAXES ON MEDICAL CONSUMABLES

Report by Emmanuel ADU GYAMFI

Dr Hassan Ayariga, the Founder and Leader of the All Peoples Congress, a leading political party in Ghana, has urged the government, to fully absorb the cost on dialysis sessions for renal disease patients in the country.

He has also entreated President Akufo - Addo led administration to absorb full cost on child birth delivery and scrap all taxes on medical consumables for dialysis.

The astute Business Mogul stated these in Accra on Thursday in a press release on the state of healthcare delivery and accessibility in the country.

General cost of treatment for renal disease patients who are put on dialysis in the country's dialysis centers at some Regional hospitals, has been highly increased.

Patients put on dialysis in the country are mandated to pay GH¢350 on each session for three times in a week (GH¢1,050), totalling GH¢4,200 per month aside the cost on drugs, feeding, transportation and other expenses.

The sad situation, has woefully compounded life - threatening issues for persons with renal disease in Ghana, with some losing their lives, others soliciting financial support from the public and the rest stacked at the hospitals for not able to pay their pilled - up bills.

Dr Hassan Ayariga in the release indicated that It is very sad and worrying to hear about the 100 per cent increment of the high cost of dialysis sessions in Ghana.

" the high increment is a big problem for Ghanaians living with kidney disease. The government and all stakeholders must urgently intervene" he emphasised.

The Leader of APC noted that stakeholders must not allow citizens of the country to face these challenges when Government can absorb the cost on dialysis.

Dr Hassan Ayariga bemoaned how the government is taxing consumables for dialysis and then giving free taxes to Chinese and other businesses to the detriment of our fellow Ghanaians lives.

He expressed worry on why foreign businesses in Ghana are exempted from paying taxes on import goods and services, while government agencies and institutions are made to pay huge taxes for the same goods and services.

"The lives of Ghanaian citizens matter and must be protected by all means necessary. A healthy society is a healthy nation" Dr Hassan Ayariga stressed.

As part of stringent measures to protect and promote quality healthcare services and delivery in Ghana, he noted, the government

should build dialysis centers in all the regions of Ghana, in order to ease the unbearable pressure on the few ones.

He added that the state should also consider the manufacturing and production of some medical consumables internally, in order to help reduce the cost of treatment.

The Founder of APC said government should scrap all taxes on non - communicable diseases to reduce the cost of drugs and treatment of those diseases

Dr Hassan Ayariga implored that National health Insurance Schemes (NHIS) in the country should be restructured and resourced well to absorb certain communicable diseases.

The release later urged government to build a good health infrastructure systems in the country to transplant organs including kidney.