The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Ashanti region has registered over 2.3 million people onto the health scheme as of June this year.

Acting Regional Director, Kwadwo Dwomoh, says this represents 17 percent of overall NHIS active members nationwide.

“Ashanti region's success cannot be overemphasized. As at June this year, 2022, the NHIA Ashanti has registered, renewed and issued a total number of 2, 387,647 cards to members and this represents approximately 17 percent contribution to the overall NHIS active members in our country,” he said.

Mr. Dwomoh was addressing the 2022 Mid-year Review and Brainstorming Meeting in Kumasi.

The annual programme of the NHIA is to help improve health care services, achieve set targets and expand membership coverage. The meeting was also to assess the performance of the NHIA from January to June 2022.

It was attended by District Managers, Monitoring and Evaluating Officers as well members of the regional management team.

Mr. Kwadwo Dwomoh admonished registered clients to avoid paying for services at the hospital unless they are not covered by the health insurance scheme.

“Before our service producers render services to our clients we sit down to agree on the service and the tariff fees.

“The client should not pay at the point of delivery unless of course it is not in the health insurance benefit package. So for instance, if you are a client registered with the scheme, 95% of diseases in Ghana are covered by the insurance.

“So, when you go to the facilities you are not supposed to pay unless of course your ailment and the drugs they are going to give to you is out of the health insurance bracket,” he said.

He encouraged subscribers to use the mobile renewal platform when their cards expire.

“Health insurance is not for the rich nor is it for the poor, it is for all of us. So, if you have to incur a cost of transportation, we have introduced this technology where you can sit in your homes and renew.

“I think it is the best thing that could happen to all of us,” said Mr. Dwomoh.

He indicated that 617,094 members have renewed their membership through the mobile renewal platform.

“Subscribers who have not renewed through the mobile renewal are taken through the process when they come to the office. We don’t print new ID cards for them.

“We get their cards and help them. We have officers who help them to renew and teach them so that when they go back home they will teach their family members who have not renewed,” he said.