Secure Universal Health Coverage
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has rolled out the One-Time Attendance Code (OTAC) and One-Time Password (OTP) initiatives as part of the NHIS Electronic Health Facility Attendance Management System (NeHFAMS).
These digital tools are designed to authenticate patient visits, eliminate fraudulent insurance claims, and eradicate unauthorised out-of-pocket charges at health facilities.
The overarching goal is to protect public funds and advance towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
According to the NHIA Operations Deputy Chief, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, the primary objectives of NeHFAMS are to “eliminate illegal charges, detect and prevent fraudulent Claims submissions and boost the NHIS efficiency.”
The system introduces a robust verification process tailored to different healthcare settings.
The One-Time Attendance Code (OTAC) is a unique, visit-specific code valid for 24 hours. Patients must generate and present this code upon arrival at a credentialed health facility to validate their visit.
This process ensures that claims submitted by hospitals correspond strictly to actual service encounters.
The One-Time Password (OTP): A security PIN used alongside the OTAC for instant verification and biometric authentication. This mechanism is primarily deployed at lower-volume health facilities.
Speaking on the rollout, the Director of Corporate Affairs at the NHIA, Mr Oswald Essuah-Mensah, emphasised that the implementation of OTAC is a collective responsibility that requires widespread collaboration.
He noted that the system is designed to accommodate users with varying literacy levels. Patients can generate their OTAC via a dedicated USSD platform by dialling *929# on any mobile device, through an online NHIA portal, or with the direct assistance of relatives, NHIA officers, and health facility personnel. For identification, the code can be generated using either a Ghana Card number or an NHIS membership number, which includes expired cards.
The digital system ensures equitable access to services under the government’s Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) policy.
This framework allows even uninsured individuals to record their attendance and access essential care pathway services, integrating preventive, promotive, and basic curative treatments at the lowest levels of healthcare delivery.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
