NHIS Rolls Out New Reforms

The National Health Insurance Authority has outlined some reform initiatives to help give the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) a new phase. The new reforms which are expected to take off early next month is expected to increase efficiency, reduce cost, improve quality of care and secure the long term future of the Scheme. Some of the initiatives to be implemented are membership drive and expansion of health insurance coverage to cover all Ghanaians. As a prelude to this, a biometric registration for prospective NHIS members is expected to begin next month. A clinical audit division will also be established to promote quality of care by uncovering, reporting and correcting sub-standard or poor healthcare practices. An NHIS call centre expected to operate 18 hours a day is going to be established to give members the chance to channel their concerns through the appropriate quarters for prompt response. A new legal framework governing the administration of the NHIS has already been passed by parliament. The law in operation will see to the consolidation of 145 District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes, and make them unified NHIS. This is aimed at correcting structural and systematic difficulties in the scheme�s administration. Though the bill has been passed, it is currently at the office of the president awaiting his signature to give it a legal backing. The National Health Insurance Scheme despite its challenges has received international recognition. In November 2010, the scheme won a UN award for excellence in showing leadership in health insurance implementation in the developing world.