Free This, This & That
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President, and flag-bearer of the NPP, says starting from December 01, 2024, all
kidney patients, who have enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will enjoy free dialysis
treatment.
This comes after a successful pilot programme that offered free kidney dialysis for patients aged 60 and above, as
well as those under 18 years.
Dr Bawumia announced this, while campaigning in the Old Tafo constituency in the Ashanti region, on Sunday,
November 10, 2024.
“Many people suffer from kidney diseases, which require dialysis, that could be costly and unaffordable for many.
Six months ago, we initiated a pilot programme to include dialysis under the National Health Insurance Scheme
(NHIS).
For the past six months, individuals over 60 and those under 18 have been receiving free dialysis.
“However, we are now concluding this pilot programme.
Starting December 01 of this year, all kidney dialysis will be covered for free under the NHIS,” he stated.
Whilst the Daily Searchlight believes that the State has a responsibility to ensure that people suffering from various
illnesses are as comfortable as possible, we believe that the introduction of some many freebies in our society,
should be matter of concern.
We believe that even though it is being described as ‘free’ ultimately, everything in any economy has a price tag to
it. Somebody must be paying, and it is certainly not the people like Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, who is ‘giving’ it out.
He certainly does not pay any tax. He is just creating a burden that others must bear. This burden, ultimately, would
be passed on to the man on the street.
We believe that the time had come for us to debate, in frank terms, the cost of so many freebies, so that we can ask
ourselves in all sincerity whether we want them, or we would rather we paid for some of the things now that are
being given to us for ‘free’.
(Editorial of the Daily Searchlight of 13 th November, 2024).