|
NHIS implementation hampered by lack of licensed chemical
shops at Wa
Wechiau (UWR), March 28, Ghanadot/GNA -
The scarcity of licensed chemical shops in the Wa West
District of the Upper West Region, has been identified as a
major obstacle to smooth implementation of the National
Health Insurance Scheme in the area.
The situation is said to be discouraging people at Wechiau
for example from joining the District's Mutual Health
Insurance Scheme, since beneficiaries were always compelled
to travel to either Wa or Nyoli, a distance of about 40 and
32 kilometres respectively to buy prescribed drugs.
Mr Titus Sorey, Wa West Scheme Manager disclosed this at the
inaugural general meeting of the Wa West District Mutual
Health Insurance Scheme at Wechiau on Thursday.
He said the purpose for introducing the schemes was being
defeated in the district because majority of beneficiaries
who were all rural dwellers, spent good sums of money
looking for drugs, which were not found in medical
facilities within their vicinities.
"For a drug that can be purchased for 50 Ghana pesewas, a
beneficiary will have to sometimes spend about Three Ghana
cedis on lorry fare to Wa to buy it and this is scaring many
people from joining the scheme," Mr Sorey said.
He called on prospective chemical shops operators to acquire
licenses because the Law establishing the National Health
Insurance Scheme does not allow the scheme to patronize
pharmaceutical chemical shops that were operating without
licenses.
The Wa West scheme, which created out of the Wa Municipal
scheme in January last year, currently had 25,748 registered
clients, comprising 6,924 children, 1,327 aged above 70 and
872 indigents, representing 39.2 per cent of the population.
Mr Sorey told the meeting that premiums totalling GH¢4,800
in respect of 10,207 persons expected to be transferred from
the Wa Municipal Scheme for 2006, had still not been
released to his outfit as well as their identity cards
processed to enable them benefit from the scheme.
Mr Daniel Dari, the District Chef Executive dispelled
rumours circulating in the district that, that NHIS is a
programme designed to benefit supporters of the New
Patriotic Party.
He said he was not aware of any requirement for one to state
his or her political affiliation before being registered as
a member of the scheme.
After a series of hot exchanges, the meeting decided to
accept a proposal to increase the premium from GH¢7.2 to GH¢8.2
and a fixed fee of one Ghana cedi for each identity card
processed, including those for children.
The high number of indigent in the district was also
considered by the meeting and a commitment was made to
assist the Management of the Scheme work to reduce it from
872 to about 200.
GNA
|
