‘Cope with registration delays for better service’

Mr. Kafui Kwaku Tulasi, Manager of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), in the Suhum Municipality, has asked patrons to bear with the teething problems of the biometric registration because its benefits are worth their while.

He said the card enabled health workers to easily access some vital medical records of patients, such as the blood groups, for speedy care in cases of emergency.

Mr Tulasi was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in reaction to the long delays associated with the registration, which has resulted in accusations of favouritism against the registration officials.

Some patrons told the GNA that they were from the adjoining towns and villages and after enduring the long queues they still had to go home without having their turns to register.

But Mr Tulasi said explained that: “The concept is a very good one, though every new concept comes with challenges. It helps to ensure that everyone registers once to prevent data duplication and also authenticates attendance at the health facilities”.

However, he said the delays in registration had mainly come about because people were rushing unduly to update their cards, though the unexpired old cards could be used alongside the biometric.

He, therefore, appealed to those whose cards were at least two months from the expiry date to continue to use them.

Mr. Tulasi said to deal with the pressure of the work load, the management of the scheme had strategized by offering priority attention to children under five years, the aged, pregnant women, and patrons under medical emergency.

Unfortunately, he said, these considerations had been misconstrued by some clients to mean favouritism.

“We have again extended working hours from 6.30 am to 10.00 pm and running shift except on Saturdays,” he said.

Mr Tulasi said they would soon receive more machines from the head office to help reduce the pressure.

“Our daily average production is about 200 clients,” he said. “We are expecting to capture over 55 per cent of the municipal population by the close of the year”.