The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) introduced in Ghana has already lived a decade yet finds itself in the ailing stage with contributors unsatisfied with the services they receive.
Chief among the problems that add to the under-development of the scheme is the lack of funds to aid in providing an equitable delivery of quality health service, which is currently enjoyed by the few financially-abled people in the country.
These issues would form part of discussions during the two-day Healthcare Quality GhanaWeb Forum 2013, organized to look critically at the quality of healthcare delivery in Ghana and its economic and human implications.
The Forum which is the first of an annual gathering would have healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals talk about quality improvement in healthcare delivery, patient safety and patient satisfaction in Ghana.
One person who is in the best position to tackle some issues concerning the NHIS is Dr. Lydia Dzane-Selby who is the Director of Claims at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
She occupied this position since May after serving as the Director of Clinical Audit for 4 years. She has 6 years of experience with the organization starting out as the Medical Advisor.
Dr. Dzane-Selby has played an integral part in several key innovations and some are the development of the DRG payment mechanism, the development of the accreditation tools and processes, the introduction of clinical audits with the development of tools and a manual and the introduction of e-claims with business rules for cost containment.
A Medical Doctor by profession with a specialty in ENT, Dr. Dzane-Selby worked as Medical Officer at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Achimota Hospital and in the UK prior to taking the appointment at the NHIA.
She would be speaking at the Forum alongside Dr. Joseph Boateng, a Physician Specialist and Convener of the Forum, Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, a pathologist and veteran politician, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon and Dr. Eli Atikpui, Registrar, Medical and Dental Council.
Others are Dr. Daniel Asare, CEO, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Dr. Francis Agyemang-Yeboah, Rev. Veronica Darko, Registrar, Nurses and Midwives Council, Mr. Joseph Kodjo Nsiah Nyoagbe, Registrar, Pharmacy Council, Mr. Samuel Paulos, Founder and Director Gateway 4 Youth and Dr. Edoardo Peterlini, Team Leader, TRAQUE.
The Forum would be at the Conference Auditorium of the Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons in Accra on November 27 and 28.
Visit health.ghanaweb.com to register for free