Flawless information gathered by this paper has revealed an unusual development as regards the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which has not engaged the attention of the Administrators of the Scheme at both regional and district levels.
Some card bearing members of the NHIS are taking undue advantage of the porous regime to beat administrators and service providers by attending and accessing dispensary services at multiple service centers and health facilities.
Our checks have revealed that these people have developed the habit of moving from one health facility to the other, with their ID Cards claiming to be ill, and after drugs have been dispensed, they collect all the drugs given, and in turn sell it for profit.
This activity is one of the sources of medicines for some drug peelers in the market as people have pointed fingers at the cunning ways through which these peddlers come by their drugs before selling.
It emerged that people who are engaged in the act report at different health facilities with different ailments.
The development our checks revealed has been going on for years without the authorities taking serious action and this has the tendency of collapsing the Scheme.
It is been a known fact that the Scheme has been faced with some challenges over the past years. However, some of the problems the scheme faces have been linked to the attitude of some beneficiaries or subscribers who through foul means are taking undue advantage of the system.
From all indications, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has no robust tracking system whereby all these orchestrations are checked and subscribers brought to book.
However, speaking to the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Mr. Nathaniel Otoo, he admitted the problem exists and indicated his preparedness to arrest the situation.
He said lack of proper monitoring and robust IT systems made it impossible for the authority to check the ongoing development.
He averred that, he is ready to ensure that all developments which will have a negative toll on the growth and progress of the system would be curtailed.
Nathaniel Otoo also mentioned that his administration will soon embark on a vigorous education campaign to inform and create awareness in the public about the progress the scheme has made and instill the confidence in the people.
The NHIA boss said he will ensure that the education drive which will be embarked upon carries messages in all the local languages so as to ensure that not a single section of the public is disadvantaged.
Mr. Otoo indicated that the various complaints that have been made against the scheme would guide strategies for improvement in service delivery and indicated the authority was ready to deepen its partnership with stakeholders to move the scheme to the next level.
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