Ghana kidney patients seek aid for high dietary costs

Kidney patients in Ghana are calling for public and corporate assistance to manage the high costs of specialized diets required for renal disease. While the government has provided free dialysis under the National Health Insurance Scheme since December 2024, advocates note that the financial burden remains severe due to the expense of low-sodium and low-potassium foods.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has stated that non-communicable diseases, including chronic kidney disease, account for approximately 40 to 45 percent of deaths in the country. The condition is increasingly affecting younger populations, with medical specialists estimating that one in eight Ghanaian adults may develop the disease in their lifetime.