The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has inaugurated a new district office in Juaboso.The move forms part of significant steps toward improving healthcare accessibility at the grassroots level.
The ceremony, held on October 17, 2024, drew a diverse audience, including political leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders, residents, and other dignitaries, despite the challenging weather conditions.
Dr. Da-costa Aboagye, the Chief Executive of the NHIA, led the event, accompanied by several key officials from the Authority, including Mr. Frederick Addy, the Deputy Chief Executive, Finance and Investment, Mr. Hudu Issah (Director, PHIS) Mr. Oswald Essuah-Mensah (Ag. Director, Corporate Affairs), Mr. Raymond Avinu (Ag. Director, Administration), Mrs. Annette Obenewaa Adutwum (Ag. Director, Legal) and Mr. Kwadwo Tweneboah Kodua, the Director for the Middle Belt.
The ceremony also saw the attendance of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Member of Parliament for Juaboso, and Dr. Alex Ampabeng, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Juaboso Parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party.
With a commitment to expanding coverage and improving service delivery, the NHIA is poised to make significant strides in ensuring that every Ghanaian can access quality healthcare.
Ahead of opening the Juaboso District Office, a similar office had been opened at Suaman in the same region.
He will also commission similar offices at West Gonja, Kpandai, and Savelugu in the subsequent days.
Community Celebration Amid Rain
The inauguration was marked by a vibrant durbar, where local residents expressed their excitement through singing and dancing, showcasing their joy at the establishment of the new office.
The atmosphere was festive, with the community coming together to celebrate this milestone, recognising the positive impact the NHIA’s presence will have on their access to healthcare services.
Dr. Aboagye highlighted that the new Juaboso office and similar ones aims not only to facilitate better access to healthcare services but also to foster a healthier future for all residents.
He emphasised that the NHIA’s commitment aligns with the government’s goal of bringing health services closer to citizens, ultimately improving health outcomes across the region.
Addressing Barriers to Healthcare Access
“The NHIA recognises that many residents in rural areas face challenges when trying to access health insurance services, especially those who may struggle with digital tools like the “MyNHISapp” or the USSD short code *929#. Dr. Aboagye stressed the importance of physical offices in providing assistance to individuals who may find it difficult to sign up for insurance or renew their memberships without digital access.
“Our aim is to ensure that no Ghanaian is left behind in accessing quality healthcare.
“By making services more accessible through district offices, the NHIA hopes to increase coverage under the NHIS, a crucial component of achieving universal healthcare in Ghana,” he said.
The recent data shared by Dr. Aboagye revealed a significant increase in active membership, surging from 10 million in 2015 to 17.8 million by December 2023.
Overcoming Historical Financial Challenges
Reflecting on the NHIA’s journey, Dr. Aboagye acknowledged the financial difficulties the authority faced in the past.
“In 2017, the NHIA struggled with a staggering debt of 1.2 billion Ghana cedis, reflecting its entire annual budget and which hindered timely payments to healthcare facilities and adversely affected access to care.
“Thanks to the unwavering support of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia, we have turned this situation around,” he stated.
“Today, the NHIA boasts an unprecedented payment of claims, having disbursed over GHc800 million cedis in just the past month, with additional over GHc300 million payments made in October.
“We have now paid claims up to August 2024 and we currently have no outstanding claims to pay. We are actually calling on facilities to submit their claims for payment,” he said.
Dr. Aboagye assured the audience that the NHIA currently has no outstanding claims, emphasising the authority’s dedication to maintaining a robust healthcare system.
New Initiatives to Enhance Healthcare Delivery
The NHIA is also committed to eliminating illegal charges, often referred to as “co-payments,” where healthcare facilities charge patients for services already covered by the NHIS.
Dr. Aboagye outlined new initiatives aimed at addressing these issues, including the introduction of the E-pharmacy policy.
“This initiative will allow pharmacies to manage prescriptions more effectively, ensuring that patients have better access to necessary medications.
In addition, the government has expanded the NHIS benefit package to include mental health services for conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and schizophrenia, set to take effect from November 1, 2024.
This addition is a significant step in improving mental healthcare access, particularly in a country with limited specialised facilities.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh appealed to the public to recognise the NHIS as a vital social intervention that has benefited countless individuals.
He emphasised the need for all Ghanaians to protect and sustain this initiative, originally initiated by former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
Dr. Ampabeng expressed gratitude to the NHIA for its commitment to enhancing healthcare access in Juaboso, highlighting the importance of digital tools in facilitating this process.
“I encourage everyone who is not yet a member of the NHIS to register immediately to benefit from the unprecedented packages offered,” he stated.
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