Private sector input crucial for greater successes of NHIS — Dr Djokoto
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has so far received GH¢9.76 billion this year, as against GH¢6.2 billion in the same period last year, enabling it to settle more of its obligations to service providers.
It attributed this higher allocation to the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Levy which had made the authority’s financial base more predictable.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NHIA, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, who disclosed this, said that the rise in revenue had enabled the NHIA to clear the arrears of GH¢1.5 billion owed service providers in the past seventh months.
He was speaking at the opening of the fifth Annual General Conference of the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFAoG) in Ho on Wednesday October 15.
More than 200 participants from about 100 private health facilities across the country are attending the four-day conference on: “Unlocking Opportunities – “Leveraging Government’s Private Sector to Boost Ghana’s Private Health Sector.”
Dr Djokoto attributed the revenue gain of the NHIA to the Government’s decision to uncap the National Health Insurance Levy which had made the authority’s financial base more predictable.
Automation
Meanwhile, Dr Djokoto said the authority was introducing automated claims processing and electronic systems to further reduce delays in the payment of claims.
For instance, he said, the new Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) provided a framework for joint investment in health facilities, equipment, and specialist training, which private sector players – clinics, laboratories, pharmacies, and insurers could explore to expand service delivery capacity.
Meanwhile, the NHIA has institutionalised stakeholder engagement through the National Health Stakeholder Insurance Forum, where private sector inputs directly informed benefit packages reviews, pricing and operational policies, Dr Djokoto added.
He reaffirmed the Government’s stance to eradicate illegal charges that undermined public confidence in the health insurance scheme, saying compliance protected not only the scheme, but also the integrity of the professions.
Collaboration
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandor, said the future of health care in Ghana depended on deeper structures and mutually beneficial collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Mr Akandor said the government recognised the private health institutions as integral partners in service delivery and innovations.
The President of the association, Dr Dr Kwame Buabeng-Frimpong, renewed the association’s call on the government to post healthcare professionals to private health facilities as well.
He said that would help to close critical gaps in health service delivery in the country.
Dr Dr Buabeng-Frimpong said the current enforcement and compliance exercise being undertaken by the association was aimed at identifying facilities operating without valid licenses.
“The exercise is a necessary step to safeguard the integrity of the healthcare delivery system in Ghana,” he added.
