NHIS Managers urged to remove bottlenecks

Kumasi, April 7, GNA - Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, the Ashanti Regional Minister, on Wednesday appealed to Managers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to identify and remove bottlenecks and weaknesses impeding its smooth operation.

They should also design and implement sustainable mechanisms that would ensure that all Ghanaians have access to quality health - a critical requirement for accelerated socio-economic growth. Mr Opoku-Manu was opening a national tactical conference of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Kumasi. "Collaborating for a sustainable NHIS" was the theme and aimed at providing the platform for the Managers to discuss and brainstorm on the challenges facing the scheme's operation and buy into the new initiatives and strategies that are being designed to inject efficiency and enhance performance.

The Minister said the government was committed to the introduction of the "one-stop premium payment" to make health care affordable and accessible to all, irrespective of one's social and economic circumstances. Managers and core officers of the scheme have a responsibility towards achieving this goal.

Mr Opoku Manu said the government did not believe in witch-hunting but would not sit down unconcerned for managers and other officials of the scheme to enrich themselves at the expense of ordinary Ghanaians. They should therefore see to it that they become more transparent and accountable. They should also not allow health care providers to charge unapproved and exorbitant fees. Mr Sylvester Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, said they had made substantial progress by improving on the scheme's ICT infrastructure, blocked leakages in the system and flushed out corrupt staff.

One of the key challenges, he said, was the payment mechanism of the scheme and warned that the entire scheme could face financial risk if appropriate and sustainable options were not found. Mr Mensah said the meeting would therefore, re-examine some of the existing policies and operation mechanisms and discuss varied options that could help improve the system. Besides, it would put a final seal on the government's policy of "one time premium payment."

Alhaji Dr Mohammed Ibn Ibrahim, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, said tactical management was essential to the success of every organization and asked the meeting to come out with pragmatic strategies to tackle the challenges facing the scheme.