The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Deputy Chief Executive (DCE), responsible for operations, Louisa Atta-Agyemang (Mrs.) has tasked the regional management teams to work harder and achieve the 20.8 million active membership set for the year 2024 ending.

She was addressing the opening ceremony of the 2024 mid-year  performance review meeting on September 4, 2024, in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi, meant to assess the progress made during the period under review.

The Membership and Regional Operations (MRO) Directorate masterminded the event with the  primary objective to review the performance in comparison to the targets set at the beginning of the year.  

During the opening remarks, Louisa Atta-Agyemang (Mrs.) who chaired the meeting motivated the staff to strive for excellence to surpass the targets set for the year, in relation to NHIS membership mobilization and revenue collection through digitalization and effective management strategies.

"First, let me take this opportunity to commend all of you for the hard work, dedication, and commitment you have demonstrated over the past six months. Despite the challenges both anticipated and unexpected, we have made remarkable strides in several key areas."

"Technology has also played a pivotal role in our progress. The digital transformation agenda that we embarked on is now bearing fruit. The introduction of the MyNHIS App has revolutionized our operations, making the registration process more seamless and improving data management. This technological advancement is not just about modernizing our systems; it is about ensuring that every Ghanaian, regardless of their location, has access to the quality healthcare services they deserve."

"Our continuous efforts to increase membership enrollment is yielding positive results, with a notable increase in active membership compared to the same period last year. This upward trend in enrollment reflects our commitment to extending healthcare coverage to more Ghanaians, bringing us closer to realizing the goal of universal Health Coverage (UHC)."

She stressed, "Another area where we have made substantial progress is in claims management. The introduction of enhanced claims management systems has reduced the average processing time for claims, leading to greater efficiency and improved satisfaction among our service providers. This remarkable achievement is crucial, as it does not only strengthen the trust our members have in the system but also ensures that healthcare providers are compensated on time, allowing them to continue delivering essential services."

"Our journey so far has not been without its challenges. Delays in the disbursement of funds, difficulties in reaching the most vulnerable populations, intermittent shortage of consumables, network downtime, logistical issues, especially official vehicles and computers. These challenges, though daunting, are not insurmountable. They require a concerted effort from all stakeholders, both within and outside the NHIA to overcome this. The journey ahead is challenging, but it is also full of opportunities. With the dedication and expertise of the NHIA team, we are confident that we will not only meet but exceed our targets for 2024 of enrolling 20.8 million Active Members that will translate to 63% of the Population Coverage.*

"As we move forward, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to providing accessible, equitable, and quality healthcare for all Ghanaians. Together, we will continue to build a healthier nation. I have that confidence in the team gathered here and I know it is possible."

Touching on some of the related issues and expectations for the rest of the year, the Ag. Director Membership and Regional Operations Directorate (MRO), Mr. Oti Frempong urged the stakeholders to close the gap and work towards achieving their annual targets.

The NHIA Ag. Director of Administration, Mr. Raymond Avinu commended the regional management teams and reassured them of Executive Management's commitment to solve their operational challenges.

The Middle Belt Operations Director, Mr. Tweneboah-Kodua reminded the regional management teams to work harder to drive up the NHIS active membership to augment  Ghana's agenda to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the year 2024.

The Northern Belt Operations Director Mr. Titus Sorey called for proactive strategies to enhance operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). A Deputy Director with the Finance Directorate, Mr. George Asamoah-Baah's  presentation focused on the rollout of Government's Integrated Financial System (GIF MIS), matters arising and the way forward.

There were presentations on the regional performances and the way forward which necessitated dicussions and brainstorming, resulting in decisions expected to further enhance the NHIS active membership increment. Exceptional performance Acknowledging achievements and successes, the Bono and Bono East Regions received special praise for their outstanding performance during the period under review.

Challenges

The meeting shed light on some operational challenges including inadequate operational vehicles and insufficient staff in some districts.

Source: ABDUL KARIM NAATOGMAH