Please increase claims support

Mr. Emmanuel Reinford Okyere, Scheme Manager of the Sekondi Sub-Metropolitan Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, has appealed to the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC) to increase its claims support and release it on time.

Speaking in an interview at Sekondi, he said without increased claim support from the NHIC, the National Health Insurance Scheme would collapse.

Mr. Okyere said most mutual health insurance schemes are not collecting sufficient premium to pay the bills of their subscribers.

He said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would be sustained when claims support is increased to supplement what is collected locally.

Mr. Okyere said 39,760 out of 56,047 people registered by the Sekondi Sub-Metropolitan Mutual Health Insurance Scheme have been issued with identity cards and are accessing health care.

He said those who have not been issued with identity cards have either not fully paid their premium, not taken their photographs or their Social Security and National Insurance (SSNIT) number cannot be validated.

Mr. Okyere said 34,685 subscribers of the scheme have accessed health care since 2005.

He expressed concern that people whose cards have expired are not renewing them.

Mr. Okyere advised people to first seek health care at the nearest health facilities or low level health facility before going to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital where charges are higher because of specialized services.

GNA