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31.08.2009 Health

I will build NHIS that will stand out in Africa -CEO

31.08.2009 LISTEN
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Mr. Sylvester A. Mensah, Chief Executve Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has said he intends to build an insurance scheme that will “stand out as a model in Africa.”

Speaking on the second day of the NHIA strategic seminar titled “Delivering on the NHIS promise”, at Sogakofe in Volta Region last Friday, Mr. Mensah outlined ambitious targets for the authority to achieve by December 2010.

The NHIA plans to create a health insurance system that would guarantee one-time premium payment, whilst promising to revise the current legal regime governing health insurance, restructure the hierarchy within the authority, and improve communication towards the public, to more effectively market the National Health Insurance System (NHIS).

Speaking to delegates within the new state of the art conference hall upon the Lake Volta, Mr. Mensah recognised the problems that faced the authority in their attempt to bring quality, affordable healthcare to all in Ghana.

He said the authority was striving to bring down the cost of healthcare services, whilst simultaneously attempting to reduce waiting times.

Touching on the mission statement, Mr. Mensah said the authority's strategic intent was to provide “affordable, accessible and quality healthcare services for all those domiciled in Ghana, with highly enthusiastic professionals who value customer intimacy and delight.”

He also called on his colleagues within the authority to identify service failures within their operations and to devote time in working together to find solutions.

Regarding future remuneration for those at the head of the authority, Mr. Mensah said directors would be required to sign a performance contract with the CEO to attain immediate targets by December 2009, and again for targets set for December 2010.

He added that performance based contracts would become a critical part of the authority's appraisal and reward system.

Opening the seminar, Dr. Kumbour, Deputy Minister of Health, warned the NHIA delegates of the “huge task' confronting them, but assured them that the authority he was confident they had the requisite competence and commitment to achieve the goals set before them.

The recurring theme of Dr. Kumbour's speech was that affordable quality health services should be available on the basis of need, rather than financial capability.

To this extent, Dr. Kumbuor stressed the responsibility the authority had to implement the one-time premium payment scheme.

Dr. Kumbuor reminded delegates that the scheme was a manifesto promise made by President John Evans Atta Mills, to ensure healthcare becomes universal, whilst some cost is also recovered.

Anticipating the changes in responsibility that a new legal framework would impose upon the authority, Dr. Kumbour highlighted to delegates the importance of being aware of these changes.

He pointed out that development in the healthcare system had brought about higher expectations from the public, and that these expectations were only likely to rise.

Re-structuring within the authority was also likely to pose some difficulty.

However, Dr. Kumbour praised the authority's professionalism in this area, stating that officials “would quickly adapt to the new demands, and make it easy for government to realise its dream of bringing healthcare to the people.”

Finally, in urging members to use team work and communication to avoid conflict and misunderstanding within the authority, Mr. Kumbour made it clear he wanted no repeat of the latest report on malpractices in the costing of services.

The sentiments of Dr. Kumbour were echoed by Hon. Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the NHIA board.

Mr. Adjaho praised the seminar for its ambition to deliver affordable healthcare to the masses, and its intention to deliver the one-time premium payment scheme. However, he cautioned delegates that at its orientation course held at Akosombo, management was ordered to begin a legislative review of the law governing health insurance.

Whilst accepting work was ongoing on this process, Mr. Adjaho reiterated the need for the work to be completed promptly, and not to pass the deadline set by council.

The results of this process, he assured the delegates, would move the NHIS “to a higher level of efficiency and portability for the well-being of the average Ghanaian.”

Mr. Adjaho also announced that council had approved a forensic audit to be carried out on the operations of the NHIS.

He assured the delegates the audit was not an exercise of victimisation, but to ensure accountability on the part of office holders.

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