The Northern Regional Director of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Abdul Latif Issahaque, believes the recent introduction of the mobile renewal system of the NHIS membership card has boosted registration.
According to him, the initiative has reduced overcrowding at the various NHIS offices and renewal centres.
The mobile membership renewal service was rolled out in December 2018 as part of reforms to ease the pressure and also provide a convenient way of renewing the NHIS card for clients.
Speaking in an interview at the annual end of year review meeting in the northern regional capital, Tamale, the Northern Regional Director, Abdul Latif Issahaque noted that some facilities record about 200 mobile renewals each day which he said was a great achievement.
“Studies of the year shows that about 70 percent of people who visit our offices were those who were there to renew their cards. They spend sometimes days. So the authority decided to introduce this MIS infrastructure so that clients can sit in the comfort of their offices and homes to renew their membership. This is helping to reduce the pressure and long queues at the various facilities. I am happy to say we are achieving huge results. People can visit our offices and confirm.”
He advised clients who are not technologically savvy to visit mobile money vendors for assistance.
“Currently what we are doing is sensitization, so when you come to our office for renewal, we take you through the process. We have also spoken to mobile money vendors and educated them on the process, if you have a phone that has a mobile wallet, they will take you through the process but at a fee.”
In an interview with Citi News, Mr. Abdul Latif Issahaque hinted that the authority would fully roll out the electronic receipt system by close of February 2019 in the region.
Also embedded in the technology is an SMS alert which will prompt NHIS users each time they visit a health facility.
With this, the user will be required to verify the authenticity of the service.
He explained that, with this technology, information on every transaction is sent to a central poll. The authority will then be able to monitor the performance of all districts across the country.
He said the reforms are part of efforts by the authority to ensure transparency, efficiency and also increase the financial mobilization as well as curbing fraudulent activities affecting the Scheme.
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Source: Diana Ngon | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
