SSNIT to roll out digital telemedicine platform for pensioners

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is exploring partnership with the Trust Hospital to introduce telemedicine channels to provide remote medical services to pensioners who live far from health facilities. 

The initiative, which would be operational by the end of this year, would enable pensioners to connect with doctors via phone, ensuring they receive necessary medical advice and support.

The Director-General of SSNIT, Kwasi Afreh Biney, who announced this at a breakfast meeting with pensioners said, beyond the Trust Hospital, the organisation would also explore signing up other clinics to the telemedicine initiative.

“We are committed to going beyond merely fulfilling basic pension obligations by exploring additional services to better serve the needs of our pensioners,” he said. 

Meeting

The meeting was on the theme: “Honouring experience, securing dignity – The role of SSNIT”.

It formed part of efforts by SSNIT to help pensioners to understand what they should expect from the managers of their contributions, introduce SSNIT digital platforms and how pensioners could benefit from them.

The meeting also provided a platform for pensioners to provide SSNIT with feedback, share their experiences and expectations of SSNIT.

It featured presentations on health screening, a presentation on wellness tips while in retirement, and presentations on how to navigate the SSNIT mobile application to access the services being offered by the trust. 

Partnership

Addressing concerns about the pension indexation rate, Mr Biney assured the pensioners that the fund would ensure that it not only expanded coverage, but worked to ensure that investments yielded higher returns to support sustainable benefits for retirees.

“You are the very reason why we are paid. We are paid because we need to run the scheme in a manner that makes it sustainable to give you the benefits of your hard work over the years,” he said.

The D-G further announced that his outfit was working with banks in the respective communities of the pensioners to have one staff member of SSNIT attending to the needs of pensioners, stating that:

“We are much closer to you and we are serving you in a much more convenient way than we have done prior to this period.”

Pensioners

The General Secretary of the National Pensioners Association (NPA), Stephen Boakye, expressed appreciation for the ongoing engagement between the association and SSNIT, saying such meetings would foster open dialogue and collaboration, allowing pensioners to share their concerns and gain clarity on important issues.

“When SSNIT listens to pensioners, works with us, and supports all our activities, it strengthens the whole idea of social security in Ghana,” he said.

He stressed the need for transparency and reassurance for future generations.

He further called for a commitment to building a more secure and inclusive future for pensioners, adding that it reflected respect and value for their contributions.

Mr Boakye also urged SSNIT to maintain its spirit of inclusiveness and accountability.