The Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, has urged stakeholders in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region to intensify efforts to increase enrolment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which currently covers 49.63 per cent of the municipality’s population.
He said expanding membership should be a collective responsibility involving traditional authorities, political leaders, the Municipal Assembly, NHIA staff and community members, rather than being left to chiefs, the Member of Parliament and the Assembly alone.
Dr Bampoe made the call during the commissioning of the NHIA’s new district office in Jomoro, in collaboration with the Member of Parliament for the area, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, and the Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Kwasi Amakye III.
He said the new facility demonstrated the Authority’s commitment to expanding health insurance coverage and bringing its services closer to communities.
However, he stressed that the priority was to translate the investment into increased enrolment, improved service delivery and greater public confidence in the scheme.
“The true measure of this investment is the number of lives we reach, the families we protect and the confidence we restore in the NHIS,” he emphasised.
Dr Bampoe urged NHIA staff, traditional authorities, the Municipal Assembly and other community stakeholders to intensify public education and membership mobilisation to bring more residents onto the scheme.
He said the office should serve as a catalyst for expanding access to healthcare and protecting households from the financial burden of illness.
The NHIA Chief Executive also called on healthcare providers to stop charging unauthorised fees for services covered under the NHIS.
He insisted that improvements in claims payments and provider tariffs must translate into better services for scheme members.
Dr Bampoe further charged NHIA staff to uphold professionalism, accountability and compassion in their dealings with the public, while prioritising membership education, timely renewals and efficient service delivery.
He called for regular membership performance reports to strengthen accountability and track progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment, under President John Dramani Mahama, to strengthening access to healthcare through improved health financing.
Staffing and logistical challenges
The Western Regional Director of the NHIA, Joseph Meneabeh Akpoh, expressed appreciation to the Jomoro MP, traditional authorities and other stakeholders for their support towards the establishment of the facility.
He, however, highlighted staffing and logistical challenges that require urgent attention to improve field operations and service delivery.
Calls for increased enrolment
The Member of Parliament for Jomoro and Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, commended the NHIA leadership for bringing its services closer to her constituents.
She encouraged residents to enrol in the NHIS and urged staff at the new office to serve the public with courtesy, efficiency and professionalism.
The Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Awulae Kwasi Amakye III, described the commissioning as a historic milestone for the municipality.
He called on traditional leaders to mobilise residents to register with the scheme and maintain active membership.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Benedict Boadi, said the facility would strengthen public service delivery and support community education on the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
