The Renal Patients Association Ghana has appealed to government to subsidise or fully absorb the cost of Erythropoietin (EPO) and iron essentials for kidney patients undergoing dialysis under the National Health Insurance Scheme or the Mahama Care health policy which is yet to be rolled out.
EPO and iron medications are administered through injections to treat anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.
While EPO, a hormone produced mainly by the kidneys, stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, iron helps in producing hemoglobin, the protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen.
The Association, while commending and thanking successive governments for the free dialysis policy, indicated that the cost of these essentials needed for their dialysis treatments remained a major barrier for most patients.
They made the appeal when they donated EPO and iron supplies to kidney patients at the Dialysis Unit of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital to support their treatment.
Mr Baffour Kodwo Ahinkra, the President of the Association, noted that the gesture was to support the patients to go through their dialysis sessions with ease to prolong their lives.
He observed that the cost of EPO ranging between GHC130 and GHC150 and the GHC100 for iron was unbearable for many patients, forcing them to stay home and die.
“Indeed, most of the patients are dying from anaemia. Every patient going through dialysis is anaemic because portions of the blood always remain in the machine.
“Each patient needs a shot or two of EPO and iron to keep their haemoglobin stable before they can be put on the machine,” he said.
For that reason, he said government needed to urgently intervene to save more lives.
Mr Ahinkra noted that the free dialysis initiative had been “lifesaving”, saying it had drastically reduced mortalities among patients.
In furtherance of their welfare, he also entreated government to bear the cost of dialysis fistula for new patients under the Mahama Cares Policy.
“It is very expensive but that is what sustains us for a long time. I have used my fistula for more than nine years and I am still using it. We will be glad if they can find another way of fixing the fistula into the policy,” he pleaded.
Having observed the orderly environment and the courtesy demonstrated by the medical team of the CCTH dialysis unit, Mr Ahinkra applauded the hospital.
Mr Thomas Vincent Cann, a journalist and dialysis patient of 13 years, expressed gratitude to the Association for the gesture, citing the essence of the supplies.
“We would wish that government will do something about the EPO and the iron. If they cannot provide it for free, at least they should give a subsidy so that we can get it at a lesser price. Many can’t afford because they are expensive,” he said.
He also urged government to acquire more dialysis machines for distribution to the district hospitals to decentralise dialysis services.
“People travel several hours to access dialysis services in Cape Coast. It is a huge burden for most patients.
“We believe that if government is able to buy more dialysis machines and take the service to the doorsteps of people as part of the Mahama Cares initiative, it will be helpful.
“Because of access, most people resort to other alternative medications which do not help,” he said.
Madam Mary Senama, another patient who had travelled from Tarkwa, shared her struggles with buying EPO and iron and reiterated the call on government to support them.
“I have been on dialysis for eight years and the ion and EPO help us a lot. We can’t get money to buy blood all the time and so that is what supports us. If you don’t have it, you become anaemic and that is killing many patients,” she said.
Dr Aaron Amartey, a medical officer on the dialysis team, explained the role of EPO and iron in treating patients and thanked the Association for its support.
“As a unit and hospital, we are hoping to get more of these supplies for our patients because they are quite expensive. The donation is going to go a long way to sustain our patients,” he added.
GNA
