Mr. Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communication for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has revealed that, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is the flagbearer of the NPP for the December 2024 elections, will do more to deepen the coverage under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the general health outcomes for all Ghanaians.
His comment comes on the wheels of the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority’s announcement that contributors of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) are now exempted from paying registration and renewal fees for the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Dr. Aboagye Dacosta had announced that contributors of SSNIT are automatically enrolled onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In a speech to staff from the Eastern, Oti and Volta Regions, the Chief Executive, Dr. Da-Costa Aboagye revealed that the NHIA Board had approved the scrapping of fees for SSNIT contributors as a way to have an easier integration of that category to expand the Scheme.
Dr. Aboagye further stated that the rationale behind his four-point vision is to make the Scheme attractive to all tax payers, increase active membership, inculcate a healthier lifestyle for the population, while reducing the overall cost burden of the Scheme over time.
In its quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has scrapped processing fees paid by SSNIT contributors.
He explained that the current focus of paying for curative services predominantly was not a sustainable approach to managing Ghana’s biggest social intervention Scheme.
Reacting to the above announcement, Richard Ahiagbah, posting on his official X platform on Monday, June 10, 2024, said, “The National Health Insurance Authority has eliminated the registration and renewal fees for NHIS subscribers who are SSNIT contributors. This means that SSNIT contributors will now be automatically enrolled in the scheme using their Ghana Card PIN without paying any fees.”
According to him, the move is expected to extend healthcare access to an additional 1.3 million Ghanaians who are SSNIT contributors but are not yet part of the health insurance scheme.
He said, “This move is expected to extend healthcare access to an additional 1.3 million Ghanaians who are SSNIT contributors but are not yet part of the health insurance scheme. Bawumia’s Bold Solutions will do even more to deepen coverage under the scheme and health outcomes for Ghanaians. This is not only a possibility; it’s a certainty!”
Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com
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