Loading
25th October, 2011
BUILDING A VIABLE NHIS
SINCE its inception in 2003, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been the cornerstone of the health delivery system in the country.
Aside being the mainstay of a good number of accredited health care service providers in the country, the scheme has been a major source of funding for the procurement of drugs, medical consumables, capital projects and vital equipment for service providers, among others.
The scheme accounts for more than 80 per cent of internally-generated funds, in public health facilities.
Notwithstanding its challenges, the NHIS continues to receive recognition as an emerging model health care financing system.
No wonder, the scheme has gained international acclaim for its home-grown innovative features and become a hub of learning and shared experience.
The scheme last year, won the United Nations Award of Excellence, for showing leadership in health insurance implementation, in the developing world.
These achievements and other innovations which have been introduced by the NHIA, can be associated with the dynamic leadership and management of the scheme who have exhibited a lot of finesse in their work.
Inaugurating the new National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) head office building in Accra recently, President John Evans Atta Mills expressed happiness about the quality of people in charge of the country’s health care delivery system.
“Health care delivery is extremely important.
A healthy nation is the ideal thing we are all craving for. And I am particular happy that the NHIA has been able to build its headquarters. But it is not buildings which help deliver health care.
It is what goes in the building. I am very proud that we have a competent body of people to be responsible for the health care delivery system,” the President said.
The Times cannot agree more with the President, because since 2009, the management team, headed by Sylvester Mensah, has introduced a series of reforms to curb the escalating costs, increase efficiency, improve quality of health care and secure a long-term future of the NHIS.
Since 2010, when the clinical audit was introduced, a total of GH¢18 million has been recovered in respect of false claims. A number of NHIS staff who have allegedly misappropriated funds are being tried for various offences. A sizeable number of staff whose performances fell below expectation, have been dismissed..
We commend Mr. Mensah and his team for their foresight and uprightness towards introducing reforms aimed at increasing efficiency, curbing escalating costs and improving the quality of health care for the people.
Aside being the mainstay of a good number of accredited health care service providers in the country, the scheme has been a major source of funding for the procurement of drugs, medical consumables, capital projects and vital equipment for service providers, among others.
The scheme accounts for more than 80 per cent of internally-generated funds, in public health facilities.
Notwithstanding its challenges, the NHIS continues to receive recognition as an emerging model health care financing system.
No wonder, the scheme has gained international acclaim for its home-grown innovative features and become a hub of learning and shared experience.
The scheme last year, won the United Nations Award of Excellence, for showing leadership in health insurance implementation, in the developing world.
These achievements and other innovations which have been introduced by the NHIA, can be associated with the dynamic leadership and management of the scheme who have exhibited a lot of finesse in their work.
Inaugurating the new National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) head office building in Accra recently, President John Evans Atta Mills expressed happiness about the quality of people in charge of the country’s health care delivery system.
“Health care delivery is extremely important.
A healthy nation is the ideal thing we are all craving for. And I am particular happy that the NHIA has been able to build its headquarters. But it is not buildings which help deliver health care.
It is what goes in the building. I am very proud that we have a competent body of people to be responsible for the health care delivery system,” the President said.
The Times cannot agree more with the President, because since 2009, the management team, headed by Sylvester Mensah, has introduced a series of reforms to curb the escalating costs, increase efficiency, improve quality of health care and secure a long-term future of the NHIS.
Since 2010, when the clinical audit was introduced, a total of GH¢18 million has been recovered in respect of false claims. A number of NHIS staff who have allegedly misappropriated funds are being tried for various offences. A sizeable number of staff whose performances fell below expectation, have been dismissed..
We commend Mr. Mensah and his team for their foresight and uprightness towards introducing reforms aimed at increasing efficiency, curbing escalating costs and improving the quality of health care for the people.
Popular stories from Editorials
