Two million out of the eight million Ghanaians registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have not benefited from the Scheme due to delays in the issuing of identity cards (IDs).

The National Health Insurance Council (NHIC) has therefore instructed the Scheme Managers across the country to issue the IDs on time to forestall delays that deprived beneficiaries access to the Scheme.

Speaking at a mass NHIS registration programme for over 300 physically challenged persons in Accra, Mr Osei Boateng Acheampong, Operations Director of the Council, said delays in the issuance of the cards remained the utmost challenge for the smooth implementation of the Scheme.

He said the ID cards would however be ready before their validity period and the authentication would be left with health institutions for delivery.

“This does not mean that beneficiaries can access the scheme before their cards were valid, because the Council would not pay any such claims to the hospitals," he warned.

Mr. Boateng expressed the hope that the support would enable the disabled to have access to health care, since health delivery was the right of all.

Mr Francis Adjetey Sowah, Executive Director of the Disabled Christian Fellowship International, a non-governmental organisation said persons with disabilities often encountered challenges in accessing quality health care due to ignorance and financial difficulties.

He said health institutions in the country were not disabled friendly, adding that, deaf persons experienced communication barriers.

Source: GNA