GHS urged to get moe involved in the NHIS

Bolgatanga, June 8, GNA- Professor Agyemang Badu-Akosa, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), on Monday said the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would have been faster if the GHS was involved at the initial stages of the scheme. Professor Akosa said the Service, which has personnel in all over the country could reach most remote communities through its community health workers who could have helped with the education and registration stages of the scheme.

"We do not wish to own it, but all the same, we need to ensure that the scheme takes off and goes on well", he said.

The Director-General was addressing the 12th Annual National Congress of District Directors of Health Services (DDHS) Group in Bolgatanga. The congress had the theme: "Operationalization of Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme at the District Level". He said it was the duty of the GHS to ensure that the people were well served, and urged the District Directors to ensure that the scheme takes off well as any failures or problems would affect their performance.

Professor Akosa commended health personnel for working hard during various immunizations programmes in the country.

The National Chairman of the DDHS Group, Dr. Alexis Nang-Beifubah, explained that the congress was to provide a forum for district health directors to discuss the insurance scheme, get to know what is involved and define their role for its success.

He said they also hope to draw the attention of government on the need to involve them actively to successfully implement the scheme. The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Rockson Ayine Bukari, said the people have high expectations for the health service and urged health personnel to do their best to make the insurance scheme a success.

He said the Health Insurance Task Force in the Municipality has organized durbars in some communities to educate the people on the Scheme.