At a recent public forum for the review of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), it came to light that some neighbouring countries were registered on the scheme.
This was raised as part of concerns and suggestions from various stakeholders during the open-floor secession at the public forum.
A second suggestion from a medical practitioner held that the NHIS should be reserved only to the vulnerable, and not made accessible to all.
She opined that most people on the scheme can afford medical care, but since there is no restriction to joining the scheme, the capable is taking advantage of it to the disadvantage of those who truly need it.
“My submission may be thought of as harsh but I urge the review committee to take it into consideration,” she appealed.
Another suggestion by a medicine counter assistant to doctors detailed that doctors should endeavour to prescribe only drugs which were on the NHIS drug list to patients on the scheme when prescribing medicines for them.
“Or better still, write drugs which they feel the patients need on a fresh prescription leaflet should they think it is necessary,” he added.
Per his stance, when doctors mix drugs which are on the NHIS drug list with those that are not, patients engage in unnecessary confrontations with us when they are asked to pay for those that are not.
In a presentation, Mr Peter Yeboah, a member of the review committee, stated that the review, which is a collaboration between the NHIA and Ministry of Health, is targeted at bettering the scheme to fortify the objective of providing quality universal healthcare to all citizens.
According to him, the main objectives of the NHIS reforms are to ensure that financial sustainability, increased public confidence and increased coverage of poor and vulnerable groups are secured.
Some are efficiency in health service purchasing and provision of a periodic review of the scheme and others.
“The purpose of the reform is to establish a sustainable, pro-poor and a more efficient NHIS, by redesigning, reorganising and reengineering the scheme,” he added.
Mr Yeboah seized the opportunity to call on the general public to submit suggestions and concerns to the review community.
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