NHIS to embark on massive registration of the vulnerable

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is to embark on massive registration for the poor and vulnerable in remote parts of Greater Accra Region.

It has therefore declared August and September as months for the registration of pregnant women, children, inmates in borstal homes and prisons and lepers at various facilities.

Mr Lawrence Sampson Amartey, Regional Director of the NHIS said the scheme would be embarking on the registration exercise with the Department of the Social Welfare.

Mr Amartey said the scheme would in October, engage stakeholders to discuss issues bedevilling the scheme and consider appropriate remedies.

Speaking at the Mid-year Review Meeting in Accra on Friday, he indicated that the scheme would continue to engage various stakeholders through dialogue in their attempt to bridge the communication gap.

According to Mr Amartey, the NHIS would also increase its public education for people in deprived communities.

“For this mid-year and the next, much attention will be on membership enrolment, with special focus on capturing indigents in the region with the new guidelines for identifying indigents,” he added.

More than 100 officials of NHIS are to review their strategies, reconsider targets and map out parameters of planned programme for the rest of the year.

The Regional Director noted that as the region continue to grow in stature; their operations also continue to evolve.

“Our challenges churn out creative innovations and further progress the scheme considering the introduction of the Biometric Member Solution in the region first.

According to Mr Amartey, the region has achieved 50 per cent of its target this year, adding: “Our active membership and premium collected stand at 1,253, 891 and GH? 4,145,415.00 at June 30.

“It is not in doubt that we will exceed our target for membership and premium collection by the end of the year 2015.”

He commended staff of the scheme for their efforts and innovations that have endeared the scheme to the discerning populace and elicited the appreciation of those who depend on it for access to healthcare.

Mr Amartey said the Scheme would not hesitate to sanction staff who may extort monies from the public in their bid to register or process their biometric cards.