‘Mahama Cares’ can be the best solution to Ghana’s dialysis crisis – Seidu Agongo

Businessman and philanthropist Alhaji Seidu Agongo has said that the government’s decision to place the free dialysis programme under the newly formed Ghana Medical Trust, also known as Mahama Cares, could prove to be the best solution to the country’s dialysis crisis.

Alhaji Agongo, who founded the Sage Medical Centre, a dialysis hospital in Accra, said many kidney disease patients lacked access to treatment due to inadequate funding and limited service availability, leading to needless complications and loss of lives.

His comments follow assurances by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Victor Bampoe, last week that the NHIA would procure additional dialysis machines and essential consumables for healthcare facilities nationwide to expand access.
The expansion is in line with the government’s broader strategy to improve access to critical healthcare services, he said, adding that it planned to incorporate the programme under the Mahama Cares initiative.

Alhaji Agongo said that, when fully operational, the Mahama Cares initiative could extend free dialysis services to all patients nationwide, bridging access and capacity gaps while saving lives.
The businessman pointed out that currently, seven of the country’s 13 regions, with a combined population of about 5.7 million people, do not have dialysis centres, highlighting a significant gap in treatment availability.

“What it means is, if you’re a kidney patient in any of these seven regions, you have to travel to the other six regions for treatment or risk deterioration and early death.”

“If you consider the fact that patients require dialysis three times a week to survive, then you can imagine the additional pressure it places on a renal patient to seek treatment in another region,” he said.

The businessman added that the government needed to partner with indigenous entrepreneurs with experience in the sector to support the implementation of the Mahama Cares initiative.

Cost of Dialysis

Alhaji Agongo founded the Sage Medical Centre at East Legon in 2020 as a subsidiary of Alive Industry, a market leader in dialysis care and technology.
The company has since imported over 650 dialysis machines and provides treatment to an average of 10,000 patients every year.

He said he was moved by the plight of kidney patients to establish the Sage Medical Centre and help expand access to quality care.
However, after half a decade in the sector, he said he is convinced that private sector investment alone is inadequate to address the problem.

“When it comes to dialysis, we have both access and capacity-to-pay challenges. Every session costs GHȼ750, and every patient requires three sessions a week.”

“Can you imagine the amount required for dialysis alone in a week, not to mention other expenses?” he asked.

The founder of the defunct Heritage Bank Limited expressed hope that the Mahama Cares initiative — which aims to provide sustainable funding for healthcare — would help to expand free access to life-saving treatment for renal patients in the country.

He emphasised that this was critical to the welfare of Ghanaians, given the rising number of kidney-related diseases in the country.

Partnership

As of 2023, Sage Medical Centre was one of just 14 dialysis centres in the country serving a population of over 30 million people.

Alhaji Agongo said the dialysis unit is equipped with some of the most advanced technology in the industry, utilising Nipro and Toray dialysis machines, known for their efficiency, precision, and patient safety.

“These machines are supported by a consistent and robust supply chain — with eight containers of dialysis consumables imported every month, including components such as bloodlines and fistula needles, ensuring uninterrupted treatment and the highest standards of care,” he said.

“What sets Sage apart is not just the numbers — but the quality of our care, the dedication of our professionals, and our ability to deliver consistently, even in the face of rising demand,” he said, adding that the centre was willing to partner with the government to make the free dialysis programme a success.

He also appealed to Ghanaians and specialists in renal health to join hands with the government in addressing the country’s kidney disease challenges.

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