The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has introduced a new payment system to enable subscribers get easy access to health facilities. The Authority is piloting a capitation payment system starting in the over 20 districts in the Ashanti Region. Under this system, the NHIA will release funds to operators of health facilities even before they attend to patients who visit the centres. Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs Director, Winfred Agboyibor disclosed to Asempa News that the system will officially be launched in July 2011. Mr. Agboyibor explained that the move is to eliminate complaints by hospitals especially of delays in payment of claims, minimize over-billing and at the same time, cut cost. He said hospitals would now have to judiciously manage funds released to them since they stand to lose if they spend beyond their allocations. Mr. Agboyibor stated that another reason for the introduction of the pre-payment system is to introduce competition among health service providers, while giving the patients the authority to switch from facilities every six months, should they realize that service delivery is below standard. He said the disbursement of funds would be based on past records posted by the hospitals, while monitoring and evaluation officers will monitor how the funds are being used efficiently. Meanwhile, a stakeholders’ seminar to afford the NHIA the opportunity to tap into the knowledge and ideas of experts in the health sector, to enable them run the system more efficiently and effectively commenced in Accra on Tuesday 28th June. “Remarkably, the NHIA has become more transparent and cooperative with the Ministry of Health and other health agencies due to a positive change in leadership style, which was appreciated by all central agencies interviewed”, Mr. Agboyibor noted. He revealed that coverage of registered members (now 16.9 million) continues to increase. “Understandably, the NHIA still faces some legal, organizational and technical challenges: the draft bill is still pending, renewal of cards by members is often untimely; cost containment and financial sustainability require continuous attention”, he stated. Story: Jerry Tsatro Mordy/Asempa News/Ghana