Nationwide Medical Insurance launches ‘My Health’

Nationwide Medical Insurance (NMI) in collaboration with Roche has introduced ‘My Health,’ a micro health insurance product that seeks to provide access to timely, acceptable and affordable healthcare to Ghanaians.

‘My Health’, which is the new kid on the bloc, is a health insurance plan that is aimed at meeting the essential healthcare needs of all people irrespective of one’s political, religious, gender and social status.

Speaking at the press launch, the keynote speaker, Dr. Gilbert Buckle the former Chief Executive Officer of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said what is exciting about this scheme is targeting the 85percent of Ghanaians who through no fault of theirs fall out of getting access to quality insurance such as this.

“we know the National Health Insurance Scheme, the intended purpose and the efforts they are making to cover everybody but there is always been room for private sector involvement for innovation to address the target group which cannot pay,” he stated.

Dr. Gilbert acknowledged with strong desire the fact that a product has been developed and designed for us in our own context and environment as Ghanaians.

“And now we not only talk of available services, affordable care, accessible care but acceptable care.”

He believes that the scheme has taken the bold effort to address the global concern for universal health coverage.

“Everybody everywhere in this country should be able to access healthcare without financing being the barrier,” he noted.

For the service and quality perspective, the former CEO of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital added that he is happy with the capitation module that is been used in this insurance policy.

According to him, capitation only means that “I will only pay for the number of people who signs on to my facility but I must also be held accountable for the quality of care I give to those people and should I breach that social contract as a service provider.”

Mr. Buckle said he is happy to hear that the scheme managers have an IT system sufficiently robust to track and monitor contributions and what they are used for in order to falter on quality delivery.

He urged the scheme managers to look at ways in which they can manage the quality dimension so that service providers do not have a feel being with capitation from loading opportunity financing their services even when quality of care may be going down.

General Manager of Nationwide Medical Insurance, Mr. Anthony Sowah, indicated that for nearly a decade and half, NMI has being at the forefront in the pursuit of an effective, efficient and reliable alternative healthcare financing arrangement that will guarantee quality, affordable and widely accessible healthcare services in the private medical centre in Ghana.

He added that this desire is to further the nation’s goal to achieve the universal healthcare coverage for all Ghanaians in the most effective, efficient and sustainable way.

According to him, NMI has over the years been inspired by its own vision to be the dominant financier of healthcare services in the private medical sector in Ghana.

“My sense of pride stems from the fact that today, an indigenous company, Nationwide Medical Insurance Company, through hardwork is closer to achieving this vision by the introduction of this micro health insurance product called ‘My Health’ onto the Ghanaian market,” Mr. Sowah stated.

He emphasized that ‘My Health’ is a product of many years of research into the healthcare needs of the Ghanaian population and the gaps that exist in the healthcare financing in the health sector.

With the aid of technology, he stressed that ‘My Health’ is designed to provide every resident in this country the opportunity to access quality healthcare at an affordable and convenient manner through the vehicle of private sector micro insurance.

Mr. Sowah intimated that ‘My Health’ offers many benefits to would-be subscribers including full coverage for breast cancers through their partnership with Roche.

He stated that the scheme allows subscribers the choice of quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily contributions to their healthcare needs.

The General Manager said the entire benefit include access to medical consultation, diagnostic investigation, prescribed medicine, maternity care, healthcare facility, hospital accommodation, chronic care, admission, surgical care and breast cancer care.

Philip Anderson, Medical Director, Roche Products Ghana Limited, noted that NMI is bold enough to venture into the informal market.

“And most importantly they have accepted to pay comprehensively for the care of breast cancer which none of their peers ever thought of doing,” he indicated.

Mr. Anderson cited that there are several factors that challenge our women seeking healthcare in breast cancer and this points to the healthcare system and their capacity to pay for the care.

He stated that their partnership with NMI has been smooth because they (NMI) sit very comfortable within the highly held values of Roche such as courage, passion and integrity.

The CEO of Breast Care International, Dr. Beatrice Wiafe, urged the scheme managers to also concentrate on comprehensive screening and primary prevention of breast cancer among women in the country particularly those in the informal sector.

Dr. Beatrice concluded by urging the NMI to also ensure that the quality, comprehensive and affordable healthcare services as promised by the scheme does not become a nine day wonder.