Former President John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised to establish modern dialysis centres in regions without the facility.
The bold move, he said, was to reduce the hurdles in accessing the service and make it more cost-effective for renal patients to enhance universal health coverage.
The former president made these remarks during the launch of the NDC 2024 Manifesto, dubbed: “Resetting Ghana.”
“We will establish modern dialysis centres in regions without dialysis centres,” he said.
Residents of the Upper East Region, who need dialysis, often must travel to the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region, about 300 kilometers away, as there is no dialysis centre in their region.
This promise could be considered a response to the increasing cases of kidney diseases in the country, he said.
Studies have shown a rise in chronic kidney conditions, partly due to lifestyle changes and other underlying health conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
Touching on other interventions in the health section, the NDC Flagbearer announced a policy that would enable access to healthcare below district hospital level to be free of charge.
“The next Mahama administration will implement Free Primary Healthcare services from the CHPS compound level to the district level in the medium term,” he said.
“The policy will ensure that any Ghanaian who walks into any healthcare facility from the polyclinic level downwards will receive healthcare without having to pay for it.”
He added that the cost of healthcare services from the district hospital upwards would be covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme, which would be overhauled and properly funded to ensure it runs effectively.
Other interventions include the expansion of health infrastructure to restore the automatic employment and timely deployment of health workers.
Construction of an ultramodern 500-bed Specialist Children’s Hospital and Fertility Centre in Accra to cater for the health needs of children.
Expand facilities at the Ho Teaching Hospital to provide comprehensive specialist services with the view to establishing a quaternary hospital in the Volta Region to attract medical tourism.
Also, the NDC would build a Specialist and Trauma Hospital in the Oti Region for emergencies on the eastern corridor, he said.
GNA