Koforidua, Oct 30, GNA- The Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Professor Oti Boateng, has called for introduction of national identification cards to enhance the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He said the use of the identity cards and numbers together with effective mapping of towns and villages with good housing numbering system, could help not only the NHIS but also serve as basis for effective national development planning system.
Daasebre Professor Oti Boateng made the call at one-day Eastern Regional stakeholders meeting on the implementation of the district Health Insurance Scheme in the region.
The meeting, organised by the Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service in collaboration with the Eastern Regional Secretariat of Mutual Health Insurance Schemes, had the theme "Moving Health Insurance Forward". It was sponsored by Partners for Health Reform Plus (PHRplus). District Chief Executives, District Directors of Health Services, District Health Insurance Co-ordinators and representatives of Health Insurance Schemes in the region attended the meeting.
He suggested that the health insurance schemes should concentrate on preventive health to ensure that financial pressure is reduced.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, urged all stakeholders, especially district assemblies, to expedite action on the scheme so that health care financing will no longer be a nightmare for Ghanaians.
He said apart from the Kwahu South District which had started a district wide Health Insurance Scheme (HIS), seven out of the remaining 14 districts in the Eastern Region are far advanced in preparation and their schemes will take off early next year.
Dr Osafo-Mensah said there are school health schemes in more that 80 per cent of second cycle institutions with boarding facilities in the region while the region could boast of innovative schemes like the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches and the Awo Pa Health Scheme of Larteh Health Centre.
He said despite some achievements made there are some challenges that need to be addressed.
The Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, said the Volta River Authority (VRA) Hospital of Akosombo, Koforidua Regional Hospital, Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Mampong-Akuapem, St. Joseph's Hospital and St. Dominic Hospital have been approved to serve as teaching hospitals.
