Mogtari Dismisses Bawumia's Free Dialysis Promise: "He Could Have Done It Earlier"

• John Mahama's 2024 campaign spokesperson has warned Ghanaians against being carried away by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's recent promise
• The Vice President of Ghana and the NPPs' flagbearer had promised to launch a free dialysis programme covered under the NHIS programme
• Joyce Bawah Mogtari said the promise was a political campaign and claimed Dr Bawumia had no intention of sustaining it after the elections

Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the Special Aide to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama, has advised voters not to be lured by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s recent promises.

Her comments come after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer promised to include dialysis treatment on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make it free from December 1 onwards.

Mogtari criticised the announcement, stating that the Vice President could have implemented this idea much earlier due to his key position in the government.

She said his decision to implement the project a few weeks before the elections was intended to sway voters to support his candidacy against the NDC’s John Mahama and was, thus, merely a campaign promise.

Read also

Dr Nsiah-Asare defends government's introduction of free dialysis policy

Mogtari, in a post on X on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, stated that the NDC flagbearer had also made a similar promise in his 2024 campaign manifesto to cover essential healthcare provisions like specialist fertility and dialysis services.

She said, unlike Dr Bawumia, John Mahama is more likely to fulfil his campaign promises and urged Ghanaians to vote for the NDC in the 2024 presidential elections for a better healthcare system.

Bawumia promises free dialysis

Vice President Bawumia announced that starting December 1, kidney dialysis would be provided for free to all patients under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

This followed a pilot programme that offered free kidney dialysis for patients aged 60 and above and those under 18.

Daily Guide reported that Bawumia made the announcement on November 10, 2024, while campaigning in the Old Tafo constituency.

However, he said the government was still transitioning from the pilot programme to full coverage.

Read also

Akua Donkor's replacement disqualified after errors were discovered in his nomination forms

The government said the cost of dialysis for that group of patients, considered the most vulnerable, is projected to be GH¢329,952 per month.

By December, the cumulative cost is projected to be approximately GH¢2.3 million.

Nsiah-Asare dismisses free dialysis promise criticism

YEN.com.gh reported that the presidential advisor on health, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, has refuted claims that the government's free dialysis treatment is a ploy to secure votes.

According to him, the government was more concerned about relieving the financial burden on poor renal patients rather than winning votes and believes they are only trying to help.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh