NHIS targets 20m active members to mark 20th anniversary-Dr Okoe-Boye
Chief Executive of Ghana’s National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, has announced that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) seeks to achieve 20 million active members by the end of the year.
As of the close of 2022, the active membership had reached 17.2 million, which is approximately 55% of the population.
The NHIS benefit package covers over 95% of disease conditions known among the Ghanaian public, and on average, over 80% of attendees to public healthcare centers present their NHIS membership cards, with at least three different drugs dispensed per visit.
The scheme has so far expanded its benefit package and added conditions such as childhood cancers and drugs for women suffering from breast cancer.
Dr. Okoe-Boye highlighted the NHIS’s commitment to providing affordable and quality healthcare since its inception 20 years ago.
He emphasized the NHIA’s determination to keep moving in the right direction.
During the launch of the 20th Anniversary celebration in Accra, Dr. Okoe-Boye reflected on the NHIS’s achievements over the past two decades, underscoring its role in Ghana’s healthcare financing.
He pledged the NHIA’s commitment to building a resilient health insurance scheme that caters to the health needs of the population by offering access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
Dr. Okoe-Boye paid tribute to former President John Agyekum Kufour’s government, which introduced NHIS in 2003.
He also highlighted that the NHIS has been training ground for sister nations in the sub-region and continues to attract foreign delegations for study tours.
Ghana and Rwanda were praised for having health insurance systems that cover more than half of their national populations.
In a brief speech, Deputy Health Minister, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Daboya/Mankarigu in the Savannah Region, Alhaji Mahama Asei Seini applauded the NHIS monumental achievements and unwavering commitment to progress.
He urged management and staff to remain steadfast and ensure that no one in Ghana is left behind in having access to affordable and quality healthcare services.
Dr. Ernest K. P. Kwarko, the NHIA Governing Board Chairman, commended the NHIS management and staff for their dedicated service and commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
He mentioned improved claims payments, increased credentialed healthcare facilities and taking care of the health needs of all residents of Ghana as some of the success stories.
He assured that Governing Board and executive management remained committed to eliminating what he described as the “Dreaded Co-payments syndrome.”
Dr. Kwarko commended NHIS management and staff for their dedicated service and forward march to Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the year 2030.
He emphasized the board’s commitment to eliminating co-payments.
NHIA Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Administration/Human Resources, Dr. Yaa Pokuaa Baiden who chairing the anniversary Planning Committee called for a renewed vigor and passion among staff to deliver their mandate in ensuring that healthcare is a fundamental right for all residents of Ghana.
“Healthcare knows no boundaries. Let us reaffirm our commitment to the NHIS and together we shall safeguard the valuable health and wellbeing of all.”
She spelt out a comprehensive programme for the nationwide celebrations and urged staff to go the extra mileage and enroll more increase the NHIS active membership.
There were solidarity speeches from development partners, especially the Christian Health Association, Ghana (CHAG).
A year-long nationwide celebration under the theme “Health Heroes: 20 years strong” will reflect on the NHIS’s significant contribution to providing financial risk protection against the high costs of healthcare services for all residents in Ghana.
The celebration will include a blood donation exercise, promotion of the MyNHIS app, a data day to emphasize the importance of technology and data, a symposium on healthcare financing, the inauguration of an upgraded health center, honoring past distinguished personalities, an awards night, and a Gospel Rock show.
There will blood donation exercises across the country to help stock the National Blood Bank, as a means of saving lives.
The NHIA’s future outlook is anchored in its transformational leadership known as the “5Ds” – Digitization, Data, Dissemination, Decentralization, and Development, which underscores the NHIS’s significance in Ghana’s healthcare landscape and sets the course for its future development
At 20, the NHIS can so far boast of eight Chief Executives.
They are Dr. Samuel Akor, Honorable Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Mr. Ras Boateng, Mr. Sylvester Mensah, Mr. Nathaniel Otoo, Dr. Samuel Yaw Annor, Dr. Lydia Dsane-Selby and the incumbent Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye
