Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has commended the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for digitising the renewal process of its members. 

He said the Mobile Membership Renewal Service is a phenomenal innovation worthy of emulation.

"Renewal of NHIS registration via mobile phone has been a phenomenal innovation, eliminating the need for queues, delays and bribery, and also increasing access to health care by those who need the services most,” he said.

He said this at the just-ended 2019 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA) ceremony at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.

Dr Bawumia, therefore, urged both the private and public sector management to emulate the NHIS example to improve efficiency at various public sector institutions.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring Universal Health Coverage (UHC) attainment by 2030 as envisaged by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mobile Membership Renewal Service

In line with government’s digitisation drive, on December 19, 2018, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia launched two technical innovations designed to make the NHIS more accessible to its members and also improve upon the Scheme’s financial management.

With a dedicated shortcode [*929#] set aside for this service, the NHIS Mobile Membership Renewal service allows members to check Policy Validity, Medicines list and Benefit Package.

Importantly, members are able to renew membership with the use of a mobile money wallet on any mobile phone.

With the mobile membership renewal and the generation of E-Receipts, the much-touted innovative track payment to streamline operations of the NHIS and make it more efficient has taken off.

The NHIS active membership has risen from 10 million as at the end of 2016 to 11.7 million. 

They have access to services by 4,600 Health Service Providers credentialed by the NHIA across the country.

The Authority has so far cleared the 2016, 2017, 2018 arrears of claims and is on course paying 2019 claims.