NHIS Managers Advised to Sustain the Scheme

The Central Regional Director of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Francis Oti Frimpong has appealed to the management of various health facilities in the country to support and provide the full coverage to their clients as contained in the benefits package and contract agreements.

He said the authority believes in all – round quality health care in Ghana and that anything that could jeopardize the smooth operation of the Scheme should be avoided.

Mr. Oti Frimpong made the call at stakeholders meeting organized by the Awutu Effutu Senya District of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Winneba.

He said since its inception, the scheme has come to ease the burden of healthcare cost and ensured that majority of Ghanaians have access to quality health care.

According to the Regional Director, a number of initiatives and projects have also been put in place to simultaneously address sustainability, challenges and universal health coverage goals in the country, considering the current Clients situation.

He disclosed that the Scheme has About 10.5 million active subscribers, with over three thousand two hundred (3,200) accredited health care service providers, with the scheme, account for more than eighty five percent ( 85%) of internally – generated funds of public and quasi – public health care facilities.

Mr. Sampson Agyiri Nyarko, the District Manager of NHIS mentioned absence of authentic and verification devices, conflict in the use of ID Cards, unrealistic annual premium payment by subscribers, delay in payment of claims, high percentage of exempt group and politicizing of the scheme’s operations as some of the issues impeding the work of the scheme and suggested the engagement of professionals to internally audit claim processing before handling over to Claim Processing Centre (CPC).

Mr. Evans Nana Amoakwa the Managing Director of Claim Processing Centre (CPC), said, permanent claim staff, early submission of the claims, Staff motivation and proper internal vetting among others should be considered by the Health facilities to avoid common mistakes, could delay or total cancellation of the claims.

The program was on the theme “10 years of NHIS implementation, its achievements, challenges and the way forward”.