The Acting Chief Executive Officer for the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, has outlined his vision for the outfit.
According to him, the outfit remains committed to strengthening internal controls and operational efficiencies to ensure the long-term sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Dr Bampoe indicated that doing this will reduce inefficiencies, waste, and abuse while enhancing financial accountability, streamlining claims management, and leveraging technology.
The move forms part of his three-point vision for the NHIA, which he outlined at a press engagement on Monday, April 14, 2025.
“We want to ensure that, in the first year of my tenure, at least 65% of the funding allocated to us goes towards settling claims. By the second year, we target increasing this to 70%. The reason for this goal is that last year, NHIA paid out around 40-41% of its funding in claims, with the remainder covering other expenses. We believe it’s essential to allocate a larger proportion of funds to our core business of claims payment,” he added.
Secondly, he said the Authority aims to restore public trust and confidence by reducing out-of-pocket payments through frequent tariff reviews, enhanced monitoring and public education, effective provider engagement, and stricter enforcement of NHIS policies.
“Later today, we will inaugurate a committee comprising senior-level directors to address this issue. Building on the work of my predecessors, who have advanced it to a certain level, we’ll leverage their findings and take decisive action to minimise and eliminate the problem. Our goal is to instil confidence in NHIA cardholders, ensuring they can use their cards without worrying about unexpected costs,” he stated.
Thirdly, the Chief Executive said in line with the government’s commitment to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the NHIA will implement the Mahama Cares initiative, which includes a sustainable funding mechanism for renal disease treatment and the introduction of free primary healthcare services.
He also announced that the NHIA had instituted two key initiatives to address some internal gaps and inefficiencies within the NHIA to reflect the president’s agenda.
The first measure will focus on a human resource audit to assess and optimise staffing, ensuring the right personnel are in place to drive the authority’s mission.
He said the second is a Management Information System (MIS) audit to evaluate and enhance the authority’s technology infrastructure, streamlining processes and improving data management.
He said these audits aim to introduce international best practices, modernise the NHIA’s operations, and improve overall efficiency.
The Chief Executive expressed the NHIA’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and increasing the proportion of funds allocated to claims payment, ensuring that more resources directly benefit Ghanaians’ health needs.
“By prioritising claims payment and efficient resource use, the NHIA aims to better serve Ghanaians and provide quality healthcare services.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
