The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has voiced growing concern over the slow pace of enrollment onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the Upper East Region, despite extensive public sensitization efforts.
According to the Regional Public Relations Officer, Rufina Ankwain, the Authority invested heavily last year in radio discussions and advertisements across various local stations to encourage residents to register. However, she said the response has been disappointing.
Ms. Ankwain suggested that illegal charges at some health facilities could be undermining public confidence in the scheme.
“It makes our clients lose trust in the scheme. When we go to the field to educate them, some tell us that even if they renew their cards and go to the facilities, they are still asked to pay — so they don’t see the difference,” she told A1 Radio.
She added that although complaints about such practices occasionally reach the Authority, most affected clients fail to formally report their experiences, making it difficult to take corrective action.
“We receive complaints, but not as many as the number of cases out there. Those who come forward are very few. We always encourage them to report because we work with evidence. If you don’t bring us evidence, there is little we can do,” she explained.
Ms. Ankwain urged clients who encounter illegal fees to provide receipts or proof of payment when submitting complaints to any NHIA district office’s Public Relations Unit. Such cases, she said, are investigated by the Co-payments Committee, which ensures that verified illegal charges are refunded to affected clients by deducting the amount from the health facility’s claims reimbursement.
Meanwhile, the NHIA is also grappling with low adoption of its myNHIS mobile app in the Upper East Region. The app, introduced to simplify registration and renewals, has not gained the expected traction among residents.
“People are using the app, but not as much as we expected,” Ms. Ankwain said. “Compared to the star-929 service, the usage of the app has not been that encouraging.”
She attributed the slow uptake partly to limited smartphone ownership in rural communities, which continues to hinder digital adoption.
Despite the challenge, Ms. Ankwain called on residents to embrace the app, emphasizing its convenience and accessibility.
“We continue to use platforms like radio and community engagements to educate members on the benefits of using the app,” she said. “You can renew your membership or register new members from the comfort of your home.”
The NHIA says it will step up public education campaigns and collaborate with local radio stations to promote both NHIS enrollment and the use of the myNHIS app. According to the Authority, improving participation in the region is essential to achieving universal health coverage and ensuring that residents have access to affordable healthcare.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
