The Netherlands international non-governmental organisation (NGO), SNV has initiated a partnership to improve upon the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to instil public confidence in the scheme and facilitate access to health care. The novelty is aimed at identifying pitfalls of the NHIS to facilitate membership retention and make the scheme financially sustainable. Ms Eunice Rachael Agbenyadzi, SNV Health Advisor told the press after a brainstorm session of the partnership in Accra that in 2006 the NGO started supporting the implementation of the NHIS through the district schemes.

She said SNV carried out a baseline survey in 2009 to know the strengths and challenges of the NHIS to facilitate support and capacity building of the scheme.

She said the relationship between service providers and clients had in the past been restricted only to claims.

Mrs Nancy Ampah, former Scheme Manager told the GNA that the partnership aimed at maintaining membership retention through improvement of data management, minimize frustration of clients and ensure quality of care. She said the SNV baseline study indicated that clients of the scheme were less satisfied, particularly with quality of care delivered by health providers. It also evaluated the health insurance barometer and governance issues.

Mrs Ampah said the partnership was reviewing client service management, communication and marketing strategy to get more members on board the scheme The partnership which comprised 57 service providers from the Ayawaso Mutual Health Scheme have been classified into five groups comprising; National Health Insurance Authority, NHIS, private providers such as the Christian Health Association of Ghana and public health providers including pharmacists.

The members have been tasked to present an action plan that would span June to November.

The objective of the plan is to build and increase partnership towards quality service delivery for membership retention and sustainability of the Ayawaso Health Insurance Scheme.

Mr Rajeer Ahal, a consultant to SNV expressed the need for the media to have an action plan that would support the implementation of the NHIS. He said it was of essence for members forming the partnership to add value to the scheme to make it functional and successful. The NHIS was established in 2003 by Act 650, to ensure equity in accessing health care.

The Ayawaso Health Insurance Scheme was set up in 2004 and covers three districts namely East Ayawaso, Central Ayawaso and West Ayawaso sub- metros. SNV is a non-profit and international development organisation established in 1965. The organisation, which is present in a number of developing countries, has presence in 35 nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Balkans.