LET'S SAVE NHIS NOW (MAY 12, 2009)

FOR some time now the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been facing some challenges which require urgent attention.
Right from the take-off of the scheme in 2004 till today, the teething challenges associated with all new projects keep mounting. Almost five years into the scheme, its managers are confronted with challenges associated with national patronage, prompt payment to service providers and an acceptable drug list.
Although there was no unanimity at the time of the passage of the NHIS Law, majority of Ghanaians still believe that the scheme offers the best alternative in health financing in the country.
Testimonies from some beneficiaries across the country show that in spite of the challenges, the NHIS is a better health financing initiative than the cash-and-carry system. That is why we must not allow the NHIS to collapse.
We are worried about reports from the Akyem Oda Government Hospital in the Eastern Region that the NHIS has not been able to settle debts owed the hospital, a situation which threatens its operations.
We are equally disturbed by reports that the newly introduced billing system under the scheme is prone to fraud.
The Mills administration has pledged to review the scheme in order to re-position it to deliver the best health delivery services to the people. Also being considered as part of the review process is the one-time payment option of the insurance premium.
The DAILY GRAPHIC urges the government to "hit the ground running" on its pledge to review the NHIS so that the bottlenecks in the system are not allowed to kill public confidence in the scheme.
Already reports of embezzlement of funds by some scheme managers and their collaborators and the inability of the NHIS to reimburse service providers for services rendered are creating doubts in the minds of the public about the sustainability of the scheme.
The scheme managers should not allow people's scepticism about the change over from cash-and-carry to the NHIS lead to cynicism such that those who have paid premiums will decide not to renew them for fear of the collapse of the scheme.
Such a development will lead to disaster and create more challenges for the government's plan to provide cheap and affordable health services for the people.
The health sector is already bedevilled with problems such as inadequate health facilities in the country and how to provide attractive motivation packages for health professionals to stem their exodus to seek greener pastures abroad.
It is our expectation that the National Health Insurance Authority will re-energise the scheme, in view of the numerous challenges, in order to encourage the public to continue to patronise it.
The health needs of the people must be of paramount concern to all, particularly the government, because a healthy workforce is required for national reconstruction efforts.
The DAILY GRAPHIC concedes that the challenges in the sector are legion but they can be tamed if the government takes immediate action to clean the "stables".
Let’s save the NHIS now!