The National Health Insurance Authority has absorbed family planning services and treatment of four childhood cancers which include cancer of the eye, kidney, jaw and abdomen.
The family planning inclusion comes after the Authority conducted a pilot in 7 Districts across the country in a duration of three years from May 2018 to the end of 2021 to see how its inclusion will increase patronage and health delivery.
Delivering a speech at the 2021 Annual Performance review, the Acting Upper East Regional Director of National Health Insurance Authority, Abudulai Kasimu explained that, the family planning services will mainly include, clinical methods of services and supplies and are: Intra-Uterus Device implants, injectables, vasectomy and tubal ligation
Commenting on the pilot, Mr. Abudulai noted that, “an end of the pilot showed that, with adequate training in Long-Acting reversible contraceptive and demand creation, including the family planning services in the benefits package will improve the uptake of such services”.
And accordingly “the NHIA included the specified Family Planning Services into the NHIS benefits with effect from January 2022,” he added.
He added that, similarly, the NHIA has absorbed the treatment of childhood cancers with treatment ranging from Ghc 5,000.00 to Ghc 18,000.00. According to the Director, these amounts were backed by actuarial studies which will cover “the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers”.
Mr. Abudulai said the absorption of these cancers are “cost-effective and gives children the opportunity to contribute their quota to national development”.
He further explained that, the Authority is currently developing for the cancers and in relation to that, is also identifying facilities with capacity to offer these treatments.
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