We need improvement in health services - Minister

Mr Antwi Boasiako-Sekyere, the Eastern Regional Minister has called for improvement in health care services and management to make it accessible to all.

He made the comments when he received a delegation from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to brief him on proposals for the roll out of health insurance capitation in the Eastern Region at Koforidua.

Mr Sekyere said a society was judged not by how it took care of its rich, but rather how they protect the vulnerable and excluded in the society.

He said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was helping to address the fundamental health issues affecting the ordinary person to ensure that all have access to health care.

Mr Anthony Gingong, Director in-charge of Provider and Payment at the NHIA, said the capitation would help address many of the challenges that the, Ghana –Diagnostic Related Groupings (G-DRG) systems brought to the scheme such as delay in payment to providers.

He noted that the objectives of the capitation were to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the health care delivery, as well as shared financial risk among scheme providers and subscribers.

Mr Gingong said with capitation fully being implemented in the Ashanti Region, 97 per cent of health insurance card bearing members were enrolled.

He urged all relevant stakeholders in the Region to help ensure a successful implementation of the capitation programme.

The delegation also called on the Regional Health Directorate to foster a close collaboration with their stakeholders.