DMHIS will receive subsidy from NHIF, says Quashigah

Effiduase (Ash), March 17, GNA-Major Courage Quashigah (RTD), the Minister of Health, said on Thursday that all District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHIS) would receive subsidy from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to enhance financial sustainability of the schemes.

He said the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC) has worked out modalities that Cabinet was considering.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of Sekyere East District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme.

The Health Minister said all schemes are therefore required to submit information on the number of indigent, aged and children less than 18 years whose parents have registered.

Maj Quashigah said the Council has put in place a claims and management system as well as health facility attendant identity card to enable contributors belonging to a particular DMHIS to access health care in another district.

He said the Council has also installed Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributor's database in the computers of all DMHIS where all eligible SSNIT contributors will be registered and issued with identity cards to enable them to access health care. The Health Minister said the government's financial support to all districts was to accelerate the set up of all district schemes throughout the country.

Currently, he said, about 90 per cent of the districts are at least at the stage of registration and collection of contributions that is the critical step for moving into the stage of managing the benefits and claims.

Maj Quashigah urged the Sekyere East DMHIS operators to work harder to register all persons in the district for the scheme. He said the most important feature of the scheme was that the cost of health care delivery was made affordable to all residents who may require health services in the country.

Maj Quashigah commended the district assemblies for their efforts and achievements for reaching a stage of issuing identification cards to members.