**NHIA CEO commends Mahama, ministers for timely claims reimbursement**

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, has praised President John Dramani Mahama, Finance Minister Dr Casely Ato Forson, and Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh for their support in enabling the Authority to promptly reimburse healthcare service providers.

He made the remarks during the commissioning of the NHIA’s new Ajumako Enyan Essiam District Office.

According to Dr Bampoe, the new facility represents the Authority’s commitment to bringing its services closer to the public and strengthening confidence in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

“This building is more than concrete and roofing sheets. It is a statement that the NHIS is permanent, that it is closer to the people, and poised to achieve UHC. When members walk into a dignified office like this, trust is restored,” he said.

The district’s NHIA staff previously operated from a small rented facility that was not disability-friendly and had limited capacity to accommodate the growing number of clients, especially during mass mobilisation exercises.

Dr Bampoe said the new facility forms part of his three-point agenda for the Authority, which focuses on improving staff welfare and internal controls, restoring public confidence by eliminating illegal charges or co-payments, and aligning NHIS operations with the government’s flagship health policies.

Following the unveiling of the plaque and cutting of the ceremonial tape, Dr Bampoe handed over the keys to a new Toyota Hilux pickup to the Central Regional Director and the Ajumako District Manager.

He explained that the NHIA had procured operational vehicles for several districts across the country to address transportation challenges that had affected enrolment, monitoring and client follow-up activities.

“For a district as large and dispersed as Ajumako Enyan Essiam — from Enyan Denkyira to Breman Essiam and Ajumako Bisease — you cannot do effective mobilisation on foot or on motorbike. This vehicle must translate into numbers. It must go into the communities, into the markets, into the schools to register people. To whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.

The NHIA CEO cautioned that the vehicle must be used strictly for official duties and urged officials to ensure that it is properly maintained.

Dr Bampoe also disclosed that the NHIA had increased its service tariffs by 50 percent following concerns raised by healthcare providers over claims payments.

However, he warned providers against imposing illegal charges on NHIS members.

“We have adjusted our tariffs to a 50 percent increment as a listening institution, and we do not want you to turn away NHIS members or cause them to pay for services that are covered under the NHIS,” he said.

The Acting Central Regional Director of the NHIA, Kojo Sekyere Koi Thompson, expressed appreciation to the Authority’s management, describing the new office and vehicle as timely interventions.

He disclosed that active NHIS membership in the Central Region currently stands at about 66 percent, with the region targeting 80 percent by December.

According to him, the new vehicle would improve the NHIA’s ability to supervise health facilities, monitor illegal charges and reach communities in hard-to-access areas.

“We will put it to good use,” he assured.

The District Chief Executive for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, Andrew Kojo Anderson, also commended the NHIA for the initiative and pledged the Assembly’s support towards maintaining the new facility.

He further praised the Authority for what he described as improvements in the timely reimbursement of claims to healthcare providers.

By Esther Padmore Amonoo