Incidents of extortion and illegal payments from National Health Insurance Scheme members (NHIS) were noticed to be occurring at some health provider sites in the Ashanti Region. 

According to the Ashanti regional director of the National Health Insurance Authority, Kwadwo Dwomoh, the situation nearly eroded the confidence the public had in the scheme. 

Given this, a co-payment committee has been set up to investigate and tackle the running illegality. 

Speaking at the National Health Insurance Authority, Ashanti Region end of the year 2022 performance review, he cautioned health facilities and health workers to desist from the practice. 

“There was some huge uproar and anxiety from the NHIS members regarding extortions and illegal payments at some health provider sites which nearly eroded the confidence the public had in the scheme. As a result of this unfortunate situation, a National Co-Payment Committee was formed and inaugurated by the Chief Executive to fight this canker to restore the enviable image of NHIS. 

“And it is on the strength of this that, I encourage every one of us to rigorously fight against the notorious co-payments and illegal fee collections at some provider sites. I urge all health facilities in the Region to desist from such practices which tend to reduce the confidence of the populace in the NHIS,” he said. 

The end of the year will assess the authorities' performance for 2022 and outline its commendation plan this year. 

The authority 2022 generated GHC 300,518 for its flagship Project 1000K for health strategy, which court support from interested individuals to pay and underwrite subscription fees for children under 18. 

Ashanti Region registered and renewed a total of 2.954 million members representing 53% of the population of Ashanti and 17.22% of the total number of NHIS Active Members in Ghana.

The Authority targets universal Health coverage in the region and the country at large by 2030. 

Director of Middle Belt National Health Insurance Authority, Kwadwo Tweneboah-Koduah charged workers to ensure 80 % enrolment to satisfy Ghana's quest to attain Universal Health Coverage

“The work of NHIA can be equated to the service to humanity. Working to make sure that the poor and vulnerable are well catered for.

If we can get everybody registered or get over 80 to 90% registration, then Ghana would have achieved Universal Health Coverage in terms of membership. And it is dependent on us to make it happens. We need to up our game,” he said. 

The authority is hopeful that, it will surpass its target at the end of 2023.