NHIA: Clients lose interest because of co-payment, strengthen measures to end the cheat–Western North Manager

NHIA: Clients lose interest because of co-payment, strengthen measures to end the cheat–Western North Manager

Mr. Gordon Amoh Boahen, the Western North Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority, has stated that clients lose interest in the insurance scheme because of co-payment being identified as a factor.

According to him, certain healthcare providers are still billing patients for services listed as covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme.

He described the situation as challenging, as it affects healthcare delivery, “leading to some clients losing interest in the scheme.

At the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District office of the NHIA, he was speaking during the 2023 end-of-year performance review meeting. The meeting, with attendees, including staffs at the district office, was to take stock of its activities and help them plan a clear path to achieve their targets for 2024.

According to him, “The Authority has clamped down on co-payment going on in various facilities,” and further said, “A committee has been set up to handle all issues of co-payment at the regional and district levels.”

Mr. Kwaku Osei Owusu Adomako, the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District Manager of the NHIA on his part explained that they set a target of 128000 for 2023, compared to 113000 in 2022, but his outfit achieved a decline figure of 105000, representing 81.9%.

He added though they could not achieve their membership target, he was of the view that they will work to achieve 80% out of the total population of Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai municipality, 178000, to attain a universal health coverage by the end of 2024.

He, however, appealed to clients to be bold and report additional charges by providers to their offices to help them retrieve the money and halt the practice.

Besides the prevalence of co-payment in some provide facilities, Mr. Kwaku Osei Owusu Adomako also identified inadequate logistics as another challenge affecting their operations, and when addressed, could help them cover about 95 percent of the population.

Source: Bibianinews. com