A policy dialogue among stakeholders of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) within the Adentan Municipal Assembly (AdMA) has urged greater efforts at reaching out to more persons, especially the indigents.

This was among a number of recommendations reached at the policy dialogue held at the AdMA to identify shortfalls in the NHIS so far as the pro-poor intervention affected indigents within the municipality.

The dialogue, which was organized by the Adentan District Citizens Monitoring Committee led by Intervention Forum (IF), a non-governmental organization, in collaboration with Send-Ghana, followed a research by the DCMC in December 2014 to measure in real terms the extent to which the poor in the Adentan Municipality were accessing health care through the NHIS.

Addressing the participants, comprising officials of the AdMA, NHIS, Department of Social Welfare and members of the DCMC, Madam Nora Ollennu, Chief Executive Officer of IF and focal person for the Adentan DCMC, shed some light on the motive behind the surveys.

She said the surveys that targeted the NHIS office, health directorate, registered and non-registered persons at the community level were to measure in real terms the extent to which the poor within the municipality were accessing health care through the NHIS and to use it as a basis for evaluating the mechanisms employed in mainstreaming them under the scheme.

Madam Ollennu said it was worth-noting that among earlier statistical findings in 18 districts which formed the unit of analysis of the study, the Adentan Municipal Assembly recorded the least overage of 15 percent of its population in terms of the NHIS subscription.

This data, she noted, though did not reflect the current situation, it did not augur well for the Municipality, hence the call for reinforced efforts to strive for better coverage or performance.

During an open forum, the participants expressed worry at the manner subscribers of the NHIS were sometimes handled, thereby frustrating their efforts to get health care.

These ranged from poor handling of clients, illegal or unapproved fees or charges at health facilities, lack of drugs, and long list of items demanded from expectant mothers calling at health facilities, and the dispensation of low-cost drugs to them.

Others related to difficulties in identifying the poor within the Municipality, and regular shifting of residents to other locations, refusal of some clients to conform to treatment, as well as delays in the issuing or renewal of health insurance cards, and dispensation of low cost drugs to clients.

The dialogue also expressed disquiet about the absence of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) within the Municipality, and quality of services to particularly the exempt group, such as retirees, pregnant women and children under 18 years.

Dr Benjamin Bob Sarpong, Director of Oyoko Clinic, explained that since the NHIS could not cover the entire cost of drugs, it was up to patients to top up.

He also said since not all items were covered by the scheme, pregnant women must try and purchase items demanded of them for the safety of the mother and the child, adding however that it was necessary for officials of the health facilities to educate clients visiting their facilities.

Again, the dialogue was told that where there was no drug at a health facility, it was important that the patient be given prescription to buy drugs from the pharmacy.

As the way forward, the participants called for increased and regular education and sensitization of the populace on the NHIS, and to conduct a means test to identify the poor within the various communities.

The NHIS officials gave the assurance that a new registration centre would be opened at Madina before the end of the year.

Mr. Theophilus Hussey, Assistant Public Relations Officer of the NHIS, who explained several issues pertaining to the running of the scheme, informed the participants that if anyone wanted to register a group such as clubs and societies they should contact the scheme manager, giving the exact number of persons involved.

Mr. Stephen Kwesi Acquah, Assemblyman for Gbentaanaa, said he had been making efforts to identify indigents within the community, and promised to liaise with the Department of Social Welfare to get more people to register with the NHIS.

Madam Harriet Nuamah Agyemang, Programme Officer of Send-Ghana, and Ms Martha Adu, Social Development Officer of the Department of Social Welfare, made significant contributions to the dialogue.