National Health Iinsurance Scheme has not collapsed – Director

Mr Anthony Gingong, Director in charge of Provider and Payment at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has rubbished claims by certain people that the health insurance scheme has collapsed and is not vibrant anymore.

He said 100 per cent of people in the rural areas depend on the NHIS to have access to daily health care service delivery.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he noted that, providers have confirmed that 95 to 98 per cent of patients who receive daily health care at their facilities were NHIS card bearers.

Mr Gingong said the scheme started with a population of one million in 2003 and now has 11 million and counting in membership, with a weekly registration of 200 people unto the scheme.

He admitted that there were challenges hindering the progress of the scheme, which were not new but had been there since the inception of the NHIS.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) had anticipated that within four years from the start of the scheme, there would be serious financial challenges.

Mr Gingong said close to a GH¢100 million was needed monthly to pay all claims and monies have been released but it was not adequate.

He said it was time to come out with innovative ideas to overcome the seemingly inadequate financial inflows to the scheme to help solve the consistent problem.

Source: GNA