<<Print>>

A three-day intensive knowledge upgrading workshop for sixty-five frontline officers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been held at Moree, near Cape Coast. Participants including, Scheme Managers, Accountants, Public Relations Officers, Claims, and Management Information System Officers, were drawn from the thirteen schemes in the Central Region. The course initiated by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), assisted the officers to appraise their past performance and renew their commitment towards the total realization of goals set by the NHIA. In a speech read on his behalf, Mr. Sylvester A. Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), advised workers of the Scheme to define where the policy is at the moment, and paint a clear picture of where they want it to be in the coming years. Mr. Mensah reiterated government's determination to put in place a health insurance policy that would guarantee a one-time premium payment, backed by a fully potable and sustainable scheme supported and driven by a robust ICT solution. It would also require a revised legal regime capable of addressing most of the internal, horizontal and vertical inconsistencies that have characterized the current legal regime of the NHIS. The Chief Executive Officer maintained that for the policy to move forward as expected an entirely restructured architecture of both the NHIA and the Scheme was essential. Furthermore, an improved communication strategy that seeks to effectively market the NHIS as an institution that is focused on its core business was also needed to spearhead the mechanism put in place by the government to implement the one-time premium payment. Mr. Mensah therefore charged all frontline workers of the scheme to cultivate the spirit of innovation and hard work so as to be able to meet the expectations of the nation, and also to resolve the challenges confronting the system realistically. He reminded them that every successful organisation did not come by chance but through effective and strategic planning, exchange of useful ideas among implementers, sharing of experiences, the prudent use of resources coupled with diligent implementation and dispassionate measurement of outcome. Mr. Mensah told the implementers of the current health delivery policy that the intention of the authorities was to build a scheme that would stand out as a model for the rest of Africa and beyond, in the provision of affordable and accessible, quality healthcare services for Ghanaians, adding that this would require highly enthusiastic professionals who value customer delight. He urged frontline officials of the various mutual health insurance schemes to ensure regular interactions with vital stakeholders, especially accredited service providers in their areas of jurisdiction, to know their challenges and help them resolve those challenges within their capability. They should also adopt similar measures at scheme level to improve the services they render to the public and the nation at large. In a communiqu�, participants pledged their full support for the implementation of the one-time premium payment plan initiated by the government, and further promised to work harder than before towards the achievement of the objectives of the NHIS.