SSNIT pensioners can now consult medical practitioners via telephone from home through newly launched Telehealth Service
Pensioners across the country are expected to benefit from easier access to health care, following the launch of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust's (SSNIT) Telehealth Service.
The service, which was unveiled in Accra on Tuesday (June 2, 2026), is designed to enable pensioners to consult qualified medical practitioners from the comfort of their homes.
It is being implemented in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and The Trust Hospital.
It allows eligible pensioners to receive medical advice, prescriptions and laboratory referrals through a structured telephone-based consultation system.
The telehealth platform forms part of broader efforts to enhance the welfare of pensioners by leveraging digital technology to improve access to essential services.
The service has been rolled out after a successful one-month pilot phase.
There are currently 267,000 pensioners under the SSNIT.
The Trust intends to expand the initiative to reach all SSNIT subscribers in future, following careful monitoring and evaluation of the current service for pensioners.
At the launch, the Director-General of SSNIT, Kwesi Afreh Biney, said the telehealth initiative formed part of efforts by SSNIT to respond to a longstanding public demand for greater social impact beyond the payment of pensions.
He said the Trust had listened to concerns raised by pensioners and other stakeholders and responded with a practical solution capable of delivering measurable benefits.
"Our telehealth represents an important evolution in institutional thinking. It reflects a shift from being primarily a transactional pension administrator to becoming a more holistic social impact organisation concerned with the broader well-being of our members,” he said.
Mr Biney added that over the years, the SSNIT had invested in office infrastructure, student accommodation, housing and energy projects, while continuing to explore new ways of serving contributors and pensioners.
"Social security in the modern context must evolve beyond income replacement into supporting the broader well-being and quality of life of the people we serve," he said.
How it works
Under the service, pensioners can call the toll-free number 0800-877-555 or dial the shortcode *929# to request a consultation.
After verification of the SSNIT number or Ghana Card number and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) status, an appointment is scheduled, and a general practitioner returns the call within 48 to 72 hours.
The programme covers medical consultations, prescriptions for medicines included on NHIS-approved lists and laboratory tests under the Pensioners' Medical Scheme.
Beneficiaries would have to provide details of their symptoms and current medications available before consultations.
The SSNIT Director-General attributed the success of the initiative to collaboration among key stakeholders, including the NHIA, The Trust Hospital, the National Pensioners Association and the Retired Senior Citizens Association.
He said digital healthcare solutions were increasingly becoming an important component of healthcare delivery across the world and offered opportunities to expand access to medical services for vulnerable populations.
"We are proud to position ourselves within that forward-looking conversation," he said.
