NHIS to cover more diseases, vulnerable groups
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is undergoing expansion to cover a number of diseases and vulnerable groups.
Advertisement
Among them are breast and cervical cancers, mental health and family planning.
Announcing this in Tamale last Thursday, President John Dramani Mahama also mentioned that pensioners and children under five years would come under the expanded scheme soon.
The President was speaking at the joint inauguration of the Northern Regional offices of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the National Communications Authority (NCA) in Tamale as part of his two-day official visit to the region.
The two projects were financed by the government.
Mr Mahama expressed the government's determination to strengthen the NHIS to enable it to play its role effectively in health delivery.
NHIS capitation
The President said the decision to introduce the NHIS capitation was born out of a strong determination to sustain the scheme for years.
In that respect, he urged health professionals to support the implementation process.
Other Trending Stories
The NHIA, President Mahama disclosed, was also establishing claims centres throughout the country to speed up claims processing and payment to service providers.
National Communications Authority
Touching on the NCA, the President said Ghana's penetration into Information and Communications Technology ( ICT) was phenomenal.
Currently, Ghana is the second biggest ICT destination in Africa.
He also mentioned mobile phone penetration, which stands at 27 million, bigger than the national population.
The President argued that advances made in ICT/technology attested to the fact that the nation was undergoing economic development, especially as one would not have to travel long distances to transact business.
He indicated that the 780-kilometre fibre optic cable which was being laid in the country would ensure that every district capital and 200 other communities were connected to the Internet.
The project passes through the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Volta, Northern, Upper West and Greater Accra regions.
So far, 280 km has been completed.
The Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayitey, said NHIS coverage stood at 9.1 million in 2013 and the figure was expected to rise to 12 million by the end of this year.
She advised the people to register in order to enjoy the benefits of the scheme.
The Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, said a number of projects were to be executed to improve the use in ICT.