The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, on August 1, 2023, inaugurated the NHIS Asawase district office in the Ashanti Region.

Speaking at the inauguration he stated that the Authority is focusing on expanding the coverage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by constructing new regional and district offices.

The aim is to make the NHIS accessible to all residents of Ghana, including visitors, and bolster the Scheme's active membership drive.

He also emphasized the NHIA's commitment to removing any financial barriers that could negatively impact the healthcare needs of its members.

Praising the efforts of successive governments, especially the current government led by His Excellency, Akufo-Addo, Dr. Okoe-Boye acknowledged their contributions to the sustainability and achievements of the NHIS over the past 20 years.

The benefit package has been continuously expanded, with recent additions including the Free Elderly Healthcare policy for individuals aged 70 and above and coverage for four childhood cancers.

To ensure that members are not burdened with out-of-pocket payments (copayments) for covered services, Dr. Okoe-Boye stressed the importance of prompt payments to credentialed healthcare service providers.

He mentioned that on July 31st, the NHIA paid over Ghs186 million cedis to healthcare providers, significantly reducing previous outstanding debts.

To enhance transparency and accountability, the NHIS introduced the "Sunshine policy," allowing suppliers of drugs to healthcare facilities and other stakeholders privileged access to view payments made to deserving facilities on the NHIS website.

Dr. Okoe-Boye thanked Hon. Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, the Member of Parliament for Asawase constituency, for supporting the construction of the NHIS District office.

He encouraged all residents of Asawase to sign up for the NHIS, emphasizing the Scheme's motto: "Your access to health." Regular medical checkups were advised to prevent complicated disease conditions that may affect longevity.

Additionally, Dr. Okoe-Boye mentioned that the NHIS plans to extend coverage to include people with mental health challenges in the near future. The ultimate goal of the NHIA is to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for the nation by 2030.

The NHIA has taken various initiatives and accomplished significant milestones in contributing to the overall growth and development of the Ghanaian economy.