NHIA expands access in Volta Region with two new district offices

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has added two district offices in the Volta region to improve accessibility to its services.

The offices are a newly constructed NHIS Ho West District office and temporary office space provided by the North Dayi District Assembly to facilitate the scheme's operationalisation in the district.

This brings to five the number of new district offices commissioned and operationalised in the Volta Region.

The Authority's Chief Executive, Dr Da-costa Aboagye, accompanied by some Directors and NHIA Head Office staff opened the respective districts' offices at brief ceremonies on October 3, 2024.

They included the Ag. Director of Administration, Mr. Raymond Avinu, the Ag. Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Oswald Essuah-Mensah, and the Ag. Director, Legal, Annette Obenewaa Adutwum.

In both districts, the entourage was received by the respective District Chief Executives and their teams, with whom he had brief meetings before addressing the gatherings.

Regional and District Staff of the NHIA, traditional leaders, clergy, representatives of other stakeholder government institutions, and a section of residents gathered at a durbar to be part of the opening of their respective district offices.

Other esteemed guests, including the Senior Presidential Advisor, Madam Elizabeth Ohene, and other high-profile dignitaries, attended the durbar. The atmosphere was vibrant, as local residents and various stakeholders joyfully expressed their joy by singing and dancing to songs of gratitude.

The community's enthusiasm was palpable as they welcomed the new office, recognizing the positive impact, it would have on their access to healthcare services.

Addressing both durbars ahead of the offices' opening, Dr Aboagye said the initiative was one of the significant steps towards enhancing healthcare accessibility by expanding NHIS coverage.

“With these new offices, the NHIA aims not only to facilitate better access to its services and health services but also to foster a healthier future for all residents of the Volta Region.

“This initiative aligns with the government's goal of expanding health services to the doorstep of citizens, thereby improving health outcomes under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),” he said.

Payment Paradigm shift

Dr. Aboagye addressed the public, assuring them that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is dedicated to ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He stated that efforts are being made to eliminate delayed reimbursements to service providers, which would prevent healthcare facilities from charging patients for services already covered by the NHIS.

Reflecting on the situation from 2016 to 2017, he recalled that the NHIA faced a debt of approximately GHC1.2 billion, which represented its entire budget at the time and resulted in many healthcare facilities going unpaid.

Indicating a shift from recent times, he highlighted the NHIA's significant payment of over GHc800 million in claims in September 2024, a record achievement in the agency's 20-year history.

“Today, as we speak, the NHIA is begging facilities to submit claims for vetting and payment,” he said.

FAHC

Dr Aboagye said the government has also introduced the Free Annual Health Check policy, allowing Ghanaians to receive an annual health assessment during their birth month. This policy aims to detect early disease and reduce healthcare costs.

“The government prioritizes health and believes that each Ghanaian should be allowed to have a health check once a year on their month of birth to facilitate early detection of diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

“It is also to make sure that Ghanaians live longer and reduce the cost burden of the NHIA because, for over 20 years, NHIA has focused on curative services.

“The government is saying that no. You do not have to be sick to go to the hospital. Now, you can go to the hospital for a health check,” he said. Additionally, Dr. Aboagye emphasized advancements in digitalization, allowing Ghanaians to register for the NHIS via an app or short code, eliminating the need for long queues at NHIA offices or travel for their service.

“Again, let's look at digital innovations within the NHIA. In 2015, Ghanaians were queuing in NHIA's offices, NHIA's rented offices, day and night. “Today, you can sit in the comfort of your home and just use an app, and you are registered.

“You can just sit in the comfort of your home and just do your registration. Regarding the NHIS coverage, the NHIA's membership has also grown substantially, increasing from 10 million in 2015 to 17.8 million as of December 2023.

Dr. Aboagye indicated they are on track to reach 20.8 million members by the end of the year.

Universal Health Coverage Dr Aboagye said that, in a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage, the NHIA has integrated the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) data with that of the National Identification Authority, particularly targeting young people aged 6 to 14.

“The initiative comes after a review of the health database revealed approximately 6.3 million children within that age group. The government has decided to eliminate the need for separate NHIS and Ghana cards for these children, as their Ghana cards will now serve as their NHIS numbers.

“This integration means that by incorporating the Ghana Card as the primary access point for health services, we can streamline health coverage and reduce barriers to care.

“The Ghana Health Service is also implementing a birth registration scheme for infants aged 0 to 5, further expanding the scope of health coverage.

“With the recent approval from Parliament, funding has been allocated to the National Identification Authority for printing Ghana Cards for children aged 6 to 14. This initiative aims to ensure that all Ghanaians have access to healthcare, potentially achieving universal health coverage ahead of the 2030 agenda,” he said.

Dr. Aboagye expressed gratitude to the two Districts for providing a dedicated space for the NHIS, emphasizing that this effort is instrumental in achieving the President's agenda of expanding healthcare services.

Common fund District Chief Executive for Ho West Municipal Assembly, Ernest Victor Apau, said the construction of the NHIS Ho West District office was purely from their District Assembly Common Fund in support of the laudable NHIA upgrade of the NHIS.

He said he included the NHIS district Office and other delivered infrastructure developments in his vision while seeking endorsement to become DCE. He expressed gratitude that he was on the path to achieving his vision.

The District Chief Executive for Ho West Municipal Assembly, Ernest Victor Apau, and the District Chief Executive for South Dayi District, Godwin Kwame Dadzawa, respectively, applauded Dr Aboagye for his strategic innovations, which had greatly improved the NHIS.

The Volta Regional Director of NHIA, Mr. Joseph Homega, also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Aboagye for his unwavering dedication to establishing five additional district offices within the region.

Mr. Homega emphasized that the new office will provide the community—young and old alike—convenient access to NHIS services, eliminating the need for lengthy and arduous journeys to Ho.

"If you know the terrain of Ho, you will appreciate the significance of this development,” he said.