Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - The National Health Insurance Council (NHIC) is to release the reviewed essential drug list October next month to meet the basic health care delivery of the average Ghanaian, Mr Sylvester A. Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) said in Accra on Friday. He said: "I strongly hope the new list prepared by NHIA, Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders in the health sector would help meet the basic health care delivery of the average Ghanaian. What is left now is Cabinet approval."

Mr Mensah was addressing a review meeting of the Greater Accra National Health Insurance Scheme service providers. The meeting sought to provide a common platform for the stakeholders in the sector to discuss and devise solutions to challenges facing operations of the scheme.

Mr Mensah noted that the final report on the one-time premium for NHIS subscribers had been completed and would be operational soon. He said as part of the project, children could access free health care even when their parents had not subscribed to the scheme. Mr Mensah said: "Although we have heard some arguments that even the developed countries have not been able to achieve the one-time premium. we will make it." He said NHIA was still reviewing the policy with other stakeholders to prevent problems in future.

Mr Mensah said government was committed to the provision of an effective and efficient health care delivery system that would provide unfettered access to good medical attention and services for the people, especially those in rural communities and deprived areas in the urban centres.

He said available statistics indicated that drugs accounted for about 60 per cent of the scheme's budget and measures would be instituted to reduce the huge cost.

Mr Mensah said NHIA had strengthened the audit department of NHIS to deal with corrupt practices, which might affect objectives of the scheme when not properly handled.

He said about two hospitals in Ashanti Region that allegedly indulged in illegalities such as double billing, over-billing and non-adherence to tariffs, irrational prescription, poor quality care and unsupported claims, as well as fraud with the suspended NHIS officials, cost the Scheme huge sums of money. The hospitals involved were therefore suspended from the scheme.

Mr Mensah said the NHIA's action was based on investigations undertaken by its clinical audit team from March 23 to 27, 2009. He said plans were far advanced to automate vetting and payment of NHIS claims to curb fraudulent activities.