A recent study conducted by the Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment Ghana (RISE-Ghana) has uncovered issues faced by pregnant women accessing antenatal care services through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Talensi and Nabdam districts.
The research, conducted across 14 healthcare facilities in the region, surveyed 300 pregnant women and highlighted several key challenges. It revealed that 51.3% of pregnant women in Nabdam and 33.3% in Talensi encounter difficulties in accessing essential medicines when utilizing their NHIS cards for antenatal care services. Additionally, concerns were raised by 17.3% in Nabdam and 38.0% in Talensi regarding co-payments, while a significant proportion (18.7% in Nabdam and 5.3% in Talensi) lacked sufficient knowledge about NHIS policy coverage.
Madam Jaw-haratu Amadu, the Programmes Manager of RISE-Ghana, presented these findings to stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Health Service and the National Health Insurance Authority, during a data validation meeting in Bolgatanga. The research, titled “Assessing the Utilization of NHIS by Pregnant Women for Antenatal Care Services in the Talensi and Nabdam Districts of the Upper East Region,” aimed to evaluate NHIS utilization for antenatal care, assess policy coverage, and gauge satisfaction levels among pregnant women.
Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as part of the STAR Ghana Foundation Gender Rights and Empowerment Project (G-REP), the research underscores the importance of addressing gaps in maternity healthcare service delivery.
Madam Amadu emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to address the identified challenges and improve maternal healthcare services. Mr. Mohammed Awudu, the District Manager of NHIS for Talensi/Nabdam, acknowledged the findings and highlighted the importance of public education to enhance understanding of NHIS policy coverage.
Madam Maria Mahama, the Nabdam District Director of the Ghana Health Services, commended RISE-Ghana for its efforts and stressed the significance of the research in guiding service providers to enhance healthcare delivery. She emphasized the need for improved client education to ensure pregnant women understand the services they receive and associated costs.