The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is taking action to halt unauthorized fees, commonly known as “copayment,” imposed on clients enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) at certain healthcare facilities.
Allegations suggest that some health service providers are unlawfully charging for services covered by the NHIS, termed as copayment, which is deemed illegal.
Consequently, the NHIA has issued warning letters to some providers and is collaborating with stakeholders to eliminate this practice.
Mr. Mohammed Awudu, the District Director of the NHIA for Talensi and Nabdam in the Upper East Region, remarks, “Some of our members have raised concerns about still being charged for certain services covered by the NHIS.”
“…And we are working to stop those illegal payments that are happening at some of the hospitals because it is affecting our members.”
“The agreement we have with the service providers is that under the benefit package, they should give us 100 per cent of the services that we have agreed with them, and under no circumstances should they charge for any services we have contracted with them”.
Mr. Awudu disclosed this during an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the sidelines of a data validation forum organized by the Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment Ghana in the Nabdam and Talensi districts.
The research aimed to evaluate the utilization of NHIS by pregnant women for Antenatal Care (ANC) services in the two districts.
Key findings included 17.3% of pregnant women in Nabdam and 38.0% in Talensi expressing concern over copayments.
Additionally, 18.7% in Nabdam and 5.3% in Talensi were reported to have limited knowledge of NHIS policy coverage.
The research revealed that 51.3% of pregnant women in Nabdam and 33.3% in Talensi faced challenges accessing medicines under NHIS for antenatal care services.
Overall, more than half of the respondents (68.80%) expressed satisfaction with NHIS services in Nabdam, while 50% in Talensi were satisfied with ANC services under the Scheme.
He emphasized the Authority’s commitment to resolving the concerns and urged Ghanaians with inactive NHIS memberships to renew them. He also encouraged those who have not yet registered to do so, ensuring they can avail themselves of the benefits.