The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has issued a stern warning to service providers, urging strict adherence to the directives of the Authority and the Ghana Health Service to avoid potential sanctions.
The call was made by Mr. Fred Appiah, the Central Regional Director of the NHIA, during a stakeholders' engagement at the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District office of the Authority in Winneba.
The theme of the meeting, “Building a Sustainable Healthcare System: Exploring Benefits and Overcoming the Challenges of Co-payment in Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC),” underscored the importance of a cohesive approach to healthcare.
Mr. Appiah, speaking through Mr. Isaac Fenell, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Manager of the NHIA, emphasized that indulging in co-payment and other illegal charges was a criminal act that required an immediate halt. He stressed that achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 relied on a robust membership drive and the restoration of member confidence.
“Membership drive is key to achieving UHC by 2030, and therefore, the need to restore and continue to regain member confidence to help attain and sustain UHC for the improved health status of the people,” stated Mr. Appiah.
He called for collaboration among stakeholders to build a sustainable healthcare system for the benefit of the entire population.
Mr. Christopher Oddoye, District Manager of the Awutu-Effutu-Senya National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), provided insights into the operational scope of the District Office, covering Effutu Municipal and Awutu Senya Districts. He highlighted that the office managed 42 active health facilities to ensure the achievement of UHC.
Addressing the issue of co-payment, Mr. Oddoye underscored its adverse effects on vulnerable groups, emphasizing the need to end such practices. He reported that the vulnerable group registration for 2023 stood at 19,631 and reiterated the importance of ceasing co-payment practices to ensure the financial stability and growth of the NHIS.
Mr. Oddoye disclosed that challenges such as co-payment practices, cash and carry, delays in reimbursement, lack of proper record-keeping systems, and delays in credential renewals needed urgent attention.
“To achieve UHC, co-payment practices must be stopped, sensitization on the use of NHIS renewal short code *929# and the MYNHIS APP be intensified, proper record-keeping systems in the facilities ensured, and also individuals, groups, and institutions continue to sponsor the registration of vulnerable at the community level,” he asserted.
Mr. Evans Nana Amoakwa, representing the Central Regional Director of the Claims Processing Center (CPC), educated participants on the benefit packages of the NHIA, including Outpatient and inpatient services, Oral Health, Maternity Care, and Emergencies.
He emphasized the exclusion of certain services and urged stakeholders to collaborate effectively towards the realization of Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
