NHIS access for poor and vulnerable a must

There is the need to ensure that the poor and vulnerable can easily register and renew their National Health Insurance cards.

This would make it easy for disadvantaged people such as the aged, pregnant women, and the physically challenged to benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Mr. Siapha Kamara, Chief of Party, People for Health Project, said this in Accra on Wednesday, at a National Stakeholders Dialogue on the Identification and enrolment of Indigents to the (NHIS).

He said ensuring that the citizenry, especially the poor and marginalized had access to the NHIS scheme, did not have to rely on government alone.

Mr. Kamara said a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders had to be adopted, towards ensuring that they have access to the scheme, especially for the vulnerable was without impediment.

He said the People for Health Project for instance collaborated with the National Health Insurance Scheme, in order to educate the vulnerable about NHIS, and opportunities it offered.

‘’We would as well work with the department of the Social Welfare to help identify the poor and vulnerable, to make sure they exercise their rights to free healthcare,’’ Mr Kamara said.

He said working with these institutions would ensure quick health delivery for those who needed it most, such as pregnant women.

Mr Raymond Avinu, Deputy Director in charge of regional Membership Registration, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), said the main aim of the NHIA was to ensure equity in health care coverage, access by the poor to healthcare services and protection of the poor and vulnerable against inadequate finances.

He said the scheme had resulted in healthcare reach, reduction in maternal and infant mortality, and improved the health delivery system.

Mr. Avinu said there was also the need to intensify collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, to resolve all bottle necks and in effect, increase enrollment of all vulnerable people.