The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Savannah Region has carried out a massive public sensitization, registration, and renewal exercise at the Damongo Saturday Market, urging residents to become ambassadors of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The exercise, which began with a colorful float through the principal streets of Damongo, saw NHIA officials engaging traders, drivers, and marketgoers on the importance of enrolling and renewing their NHIS cards. The sensitization continued inside the bustling market, where officers demonstrated how to use the NHIS digital platforms — the *929# shortcode and the MyNHIS App — to register and renew conveniently from any location.
The West Gonja Municipal Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr. Rahman Iddrisu in his remarks, expressed appreciation to participants for turning out in large numbers to support the event. He commended the community for their enthusiasm and urged residents to take the registration and renewal of their NHIS cards seriously.
According to Mr. Rahman, active participation in the scheme is crucial to helping the Authority achieve its goal of universal health coverage for all Ghanaians. He encouraged those yet to enroll to do so promptly and reminded existing members to renew their cards regularly to continue enjoying uninterrupted healthcare services.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, the Director in charge of Infrastructure, Lawyer Baba Iddrisu Zankawa, emphasized the significance of health insurance to national development.
“Health insurance is very important to the nation. Without health, there is no nation,” he said. “Our CEO has three main visions. The first is to eliminate illegal payments at health facilities. Patients with valid NHIS cards should not be asked to pay for services covered by the scheme.”
He disclosed that the NHIA had cleared all outstanding claims up to July 2025, ensuring prompt payments to health service providers to prevent excuses that lead to illegal co-payments.
“As we speak, the Authority does not owe any health provider that submitted claims for July on time. We want facilities to have the resources to buy medicines and logistics so they can serve the public efficiently,” he added.
Lawyer Zankawa also reiterated the Authority’s commitment to implementing free primary healthcare, a key government policy currently being finalized for rollout.
On his part, the Savannah Regional Operations Manager of NHIA, Mr. Mahama Sankara, thanked all participants and appealed to the public to champion the scheme’s message.
“Let us all be ambassadors of NHIS. Encourage your friends and family to register or renew their cards. You can now do this easily through *929# or the MyNHIS App without visiting our offices,” he urged.
He further encouraged residents to make use of the NHIS subscriber handbook, which lists all medicines and services covered under the scheme.
“Many people buy medicines they shouldn’t pay for because they don’t know what is covered. From page 71 to 95 of the handbook, you can find all the approved medications. Know your rights and demand them at health facilities,” he stated.
Mr. Sankara assured the public that NHIA currently owes no health facility, dismissing the long-standing excuse of delayed payments. He encouraged members of the public to report any case where they are charged for services covered by the NHIS.
The outreach exercise forms part of NHIA’s broader effort to strengthen public confidence in the scheme, expand membership, and ensure that all Ghanaians enjoy accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
