<<Print>>

The Volta Regional district offices of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) are being equipped with modern equipment to enable them begin biometric registration of clients.

A team of experts from the NHIA headquarters are currently installing biometric registration equipment in all the 18 operational districts, in preparation towards the exercise.

The NHIS technical experts are also carrying out a comprehensive training programme for personnel in these districts on how to operate the equipment, to ensure a successful exercise, which the regional authorities say would start on the 20th March 2015, as a way of improving upon the existing membership cards of beneficiaries of the scheme.

The Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Charles Agbesi, told media personnel in Ho that the installation of the equipment, and the training of the personnel, formed a crucial part of the biometric registration exercise to ensure that the machines were properly fixed, and the personnel also having the requisite skills and knowledge to operate them.

According to Agbesi, while some staff personnel in the districts are being taken through technical training at various stages, others are also involved in public education in communities, to create the needed awareness on the biometric registration and its benefits to subscribers.

The Regional PRO of the NHIA further explained that special education on the biometric registration was being organised for medical doctors, hospital administrators and technical personnel at the various health facilities, to ensure that they have adequate knowledge on biometric registration  before it would be introduced and used at the health facilities.

He explained that the registration would go a long way to bring sanity into the health insurance system, as it would help providers to authenticate the cards before providing services.

Agbesi further told the media that the exercise would start at the Krachi East and West, Nkwanta North and South, as well as Kadjebi districts.  The next districts to follow are Ketu North and South, and South and North Tongu.