As part of efforts in curbing unauthorized payments at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) provider facilities, the National Health Insurance Authority will soon embark on a nationwide restricted universal healthcare programme to help streamline fees charged its members at credentialed health facilities below primary hospitals.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr.Samuel Yaw Annor said this when he was addressing the media and NHIS members at theAyawaso District Office of NHIA in Accra.

During his visit to the District, the CEO said the Authority is in talks with various providers to launch the restricted ‘universal healthcare program’ where providers at the primary health care level will be given full payment for treatment of NHIS members without passing on charges to the members.

Dr. Annor also revealed that the NHIA will by December launch its flagship mobile membership renewal service which was successfully piloted in May 2018 in the Asuogyaman and West Mamprusi Districts of the Eastern and Western Regions respectively. An NHIS District office approximately processes about 60,000 membership renewals yearly.

After the launch, the project will be rolled out nationwide, which will in turn provide convenience for members and drastically reduce waiting times at the Districts. A complementary system is being designed for NHIS health providers to enable them authenticate membership through a non-biometric authentication system at provider sites.