The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has as at June, registered a membership of 523,306, representing 66.5 per cent of the entire population of the Upper West Region.

Mr Abass Suleymana, Regional Director of the Upper West Regional branch of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), said this during the 2016 mid-year performance review meeting in Wa.

“Our highest management priority is to continue to consolidate this gain until the end of this year and beyond”, he said.

Mr Suleymana said being in the midst of the farming season, nothing was more important than taking their services to the doorsteps of the people.

The Upper West Regional Director of the NHIA said the mid-year performance review afforded them the opportunity to take stock of their achievements, identify the challenges and chart the way forward.

Mr Suleymana said the scheme seeks to provide financial access to quality healthcare to all including the poor and disadvantaged in society.

He outlined increased membership drive, increased utilization, improved ICT performance, introduction of the Biometric Membership System (BMS) and improved quality assurance system as some of the successes the Scheme chalked in the Region during the period under review.

“The undeniable pattern of increased utilization by NHIS cardholders bears testimony to the confidence that our population continues to have in the scheme”, he said.

Mr Suleymana said the NHIA is conscious of the fact that it is confronted with challenges and enormous expectations and pleaded for patience and understanding to help meet these expectations.