NHIA CEO Meets Ridge Hospital Management to Boost NHIS

The newly appointed Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, has paid a working visit to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
This visit is part of his broader stakeholder engagement agenda. It aims to gain firsthand insight into the performance and operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme and collaboratively boost it.
His engagement with the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, commonly known as Ridge Hospital, last Friday focused on identifying strategies to strengthen and sustain the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for maximum efficiency, with the goal of fast-tracking the delivery of Universal Health Coverage (UHC
Dr. Bampoe and his team from the NHIA were received by the hospital’s Managing Director, Dr. Ralph Armah, and a section of his management team.
Accompanying Dr. Bampoe on the visit were key officials from the NHIA, including Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Oswald Essuah-Mensah; Director of Strategic Health Purchasing, Dr. Mrs. Ruby Aileen Mensah Annan; Acting Director of Claims, Dr. Abigail Nyarko Cudjoe Derkyi-Kwarteng; Director of Membership and Regional Operations, Mr. Francis Oti Frempong; Director of Financial Accounting, Dr. Gustav Cruickshank; and Director of Quality Assurance, Dr. Yaw Opoku-Boateng.

UHC
Dr. Bampoe emphasised that his visit aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to improve public confidence in the NHIS.
He said that boosting public confidence in the Scheme was a priority for the President, as it was critical in advancing UHC in the country.
He expressed his commitment to driving the UHC agenda and fostering stronger relationships between stakeholders involved in the Scheme.
“To achieve this goal, I need to engage key stakeholders, particularly healthcare service providers, who serve as the interface between the Authority and Scheme members,” he said.
He noted that such partnerships were crucial in enhancing service delivery under the Scheme and improving public confidence in the NHIS.

Financial Sustainability
Touching on a possible funding gap due to the withdrawal of a key supporter of the Scheme, the USAID, and other factors, Dr. Bampoe highlighted the urgent need for innovative and ingenious ways to sustain the NHIS and the quality of service under the Scheme.
He noted that recent funding challenges, including the withdrawal of support from the United States under President Trump’s administration, had left a significant gap in healthcare financing.
Therefore, Dr. Bampoe stressed that while it was important to secure additional funding, it was also critical to ensure the efficient use of existing resources and funds.
He pointed out that leakages in the system needed to be addressed to optimize the use of available funds.
“If we were to guard our funding more judiciously and use it for its intended purposes, it would be a good start. We can employ various financial accounting strategies, but ensuring that funds are used effectively remains crucial,” he emphasised.
Dr. Bampoe reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring a robust and sustainable NHIS that effectively serves Ghanaians.
He expressed optimism that engagements such as this would improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare under the NHIS.
With Dr. Bampoe at the helm, the Authority is poised to address the challenges facing the NHIS and improve healthcare delivery for all Ghanaians.
As he continues his familiarization tour, the NHIA CEO is expected to engage with more healthcare providers and stakeholders nationwide to gather insights and strengthen the National Health Insurance Scheme collaboratively.

Commendations and Concerns from Ridge Hospital
Dr. Ralph Armah and his team praised the NHIA for several commendable practices that private sector players should emulate.
These included prompt claims payments, effective reconciliation processes, and stakeholder consultations.
“The NHIA is doing well in so many ways regarding the Scheme, and we encourage you not to adhere to unconstructive criticisms, so you slack. Continue your good work and strive to improve by the day,” he said.
Dr. Ralph Armah and his team also raised several concerns that they believe the NHIA should address to improve service delivery.
That included discrepancies in the current electronic payment interface and the hospital’s categorization as a secondary facility, although it provided primary, secondary, and tertiary services.
He said due to that classification; they could not claim all operational costs due to them from the NHIA, pleading for a critical look into the situation to help enhance their work.