In a heartbreaking revelation, Baffour Kojo Ahenkorah, President of the Renal Patients Association in Ghana, has shed light on the drastic measures that kidney disease patients are resorting to in order to survive. In an interview with Joy News’ PM Express, Mr. Ahenkorah shared how many Ghanaians are making huge financial sacrifices, some even trading apartments or paying millions of cedis to obtain a kidney, as they grapple with the high costs of dialysis and organ transplants.
This discussion comes on the heels of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent announcement that the government will begin offering free dialysis sessions at select government hospitals from December 1, 2024, under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). While this announcement has brought hope, the stories of struggle and sacrifice underscore the immense financial and emotional toll kidney disease places on families.
Dialysis Costs: An Ongoing Financial Burden
For years, Ghanaian kidney disease patients have faced prohibitive costs for dialysis treatment, a critical but costly procedure required several times a week. Mr. Ahenkorah reflected on his own decade-long journey, noting that he has spent so much on dialysis over the years that it could have funded a transplant. However, with no access to bulk funds, he and many other patients find themselves trapped in a cycle of paying for dialysis just to survive, with no savings left for the one-time cost of a transplant.
“If I’m to calculate the 10 years now, the money I’ve spent, I could have done a transplant easily with that money,” he said. “But the point is, I don’t have the bulk money to go and do it.”
Extreme Measures for Kidney Transplants
The escalating crisis has led some patients to take desperate actions. Mr. Ahenkorah revealed that people are selling kidneys discreetly in Ghana, often asking for ¢3 million to ¢4 million or even a two-bedroom apartment in exchange. The traditional route of family members donating kidneys has become less common, with financial hardships compelling some individuals to sell their kidneys in a private, indirect market.
“Now, the country is hot; people need money,” Mr. Ahenkorah explained. “So if I can live on one kidney, why not?”
This arrangement, however, does not end with purchasing the kidney. Patients must still cover the high cost of surgery, an estimated $25,000 for the transplant procedure. These expenses make kidney transplants a daunting financial hurdle that most Ghanaians simply cannot afford.
The High Cost of Medication
Beyond dialysis and transplant expenses, patients also face the ongoing costs of medication. For example, erythropoietin injections, essential for kidney disease patients, and blood pressure medication further strain finances. Mr. Ahenkorah noted that he has spent so much on these medications alone that, had he been able to save, he might have afforded a transplant long ago.
“If I’m to sit down and calculate the erythropoietin injections alone that I have bought, and the BP medication that I have bought, that money, I could have done transplant way back,” he remarked.
Hope for Change with Free Dialysis Program
The government’s upcoming free dialysis program is seen as a step in the right direction. For patients who have long been unable to save for a transplant while managing the ongoing costs of dialysis, this initiative may help ease the financial burden, potentially allowing patients to build savings for a transplant.
Mr. Ahenkorah expressed his hope that, had such a program been in place over the past decade, it might have been possible for him and others to save enough to pursue a transplant, thus freeing them from the endless cycle of dialysis payments.
Conclusion
As the December 1, 2024, implementation date for free dialysis sessions approaches, patients and families are hopeful for relief from the high costs of treatment. However, the crisis highlights a much larger issue in Ghana’s healthcare system, where many patients are forced into severe financial hardship or unorthodox measures just to survive. With continued efforts to address these systemic challenges, there is hope that Ghana can build a more sustainable and compassionate healthcare system that provides for all.
