Dr. Samuel Annor’
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Samuel Annor, has called for the standardisation of out-of-pocket payment for healthcare services across the country.
He said the current health system does not have a standardised tariff system for out-of-pocket payment for healthcare seekers.
According to him, the lack of a standard tariff structure for certain procedures in the health sector, especially on the side of NHIS providers, derails the efforts of government to provide universal healthcare access to all Ghanaians.
Dr. Annor was speaking at a day’s meeting with service providers on how best to make the scheme function by addressing bottlenecks such as NHIS service tariffs, poor experience at provider sites and unauthorised fee payment.
“One of the issues we have is the experience our members get when they visit the service providers. A typical example is when a provider separates NHIS card holders from those paying cash. Although this may be harmless on the part of the provider it sends negative feedback to those using the cards,” he explained.
Dr. Annor urged the service provider to always have in mind the essence of the NHIS as a social intervention and, therefore, must work with the NHIA to ensure it works.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu, in his remarks said the issue of unauthorised fee payment has the potential to undermine the real essence of the NHIS.
“Millions of people, especially the poor and vulnerable, depend on the NHIS to completely take way the financial burden associated with healthcare, especially at the primary level of care and we must not fail them,” he added.
Mr. Aboagye-Gyedu cautioned against compromise in the system, adding that it is the collective responsibility of all to ensure the expectations of NHIS members and the public at large are always met.