The technical committee set up by President John Mahama last year to review the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has tabled a proposal that the scheme be restricted to compulsory primary healthcare, as well as maternal and child healthcare provision.
Even though the review process has not been completed, the committee appears to be convinced that compulsory primary healthcare, as well as maternal and child healthcare provision must cover all Ghanaians under the scheme
Primary healthcare is the first level of contact individuals, families and communities have with the healthcare system.
With this proposal, the NHIS will provide a core Primary Healthcare benefit package guaranteed for all citizens of the country free of charge, whether they are members of the scheme or not.
This, according to the committee, will make the NHIS more focused as a major vehicle for Universal Health Coverage.
Currently, the NHIS runs a benefit package which experts have described as bloated, inefficient and exclusionary, and one which is not sustainable into the future.
Source: The Finder