Annual Programme of Work 2009 - Ministry of Health

access to free healthcare to exempt groups under the National Health Insurance Act and
provides subsidies and re-insurance to District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes.
The NHIS began the implementation of Government’s free maternal care/delivery program
policy and over 200,000 women had been registered as at the end of August 2008. A proposal
for the amendment of the legislation on decoupling of children from their parents is before
parliament. The proposals aim to de-link registration of children from their parents. The
NHIS accreditation tools were reviewed, appropriate software was developed and the tools
piloted in two regions.
Submission of reports by schemes to ensure early release of funds continued to be a problem.
Requests for reinsurance continued to increase. A new tariff based on diagnosis related
groupings (DRGs) was implemented in the second quarter of the year and revised medicines
list was also developed. Work is ongoing to develop prescription guidelines.
Key challenges of the NHIS include weak portability, inefficient claims processing and
delays in claims payment by DMHIS, and the provisional regime of accreditation.
The policy thrust for the year 2009 is to consolidate gains made in the registration of
members, formalize the accreditation of health providers and improve claims management.
Priority Activities
• Expand membership towards universal coverage.
• Accelerate the deployment of ICT to enhance portability and facilitate claims
processing, payment and data management.
• Formalize a system for accrediting both public and private health facilities to promote
quality of care.
• Build capacity of schemes in governance and financial management.
• Build capacity of the NHIA for monitoring and evaluation.
Expected Results
• NHIS membership coverage increased to 65% of Ghana’s population.
• ICT functional in 145 districts and NHIS fully portable through uniform ID card.
• Improved promptness of payment of claims to providers (at least 30% claims paid
within 30 days).
• At least 1,000 facilities inspected under the formal accreditation system.
Collaborators
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Private Hospitals and
Maternity Homes Board, Medical and Dental Council, Pharmacy Council, Nurses and
Midwives Council, Teaching Hospitals, Ghana Health Service, Christian Health Association
of Ghana, Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners, Ghana Association of Quasi-
Government Health Institutions, Ghana Registered Midwives Association, Association of
Community Pharmacists and Association of Private Medical Laboratories, Development
Partners.
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