Key stakeholders in Ghana’s health eco-system have met for an inception meeting towards the 2023/2024 National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) service tariff review exercise in Accra. 

The stakeholder engagement was in line with the NHIA Governing Board and Executive Management’s commitment to implementing NHIS service tariffs that are cost-effective and mutually acceptable by all the relevant bodies. 

The meeting was organized by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Strategic Health Purchasing Directorate (SHPD) on December 20, 2023.

The participants were from the Ministry of Health (MOH) Standard Treatment Guidelines Expert Committee, Ghana Health Service (GHS), Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Teaching Hospitals, the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners (S.P.M.D.P)  Association of Private Medical Laboratories, Ahmadiyya Muslim Health Service Ghana, Medical Superintendents Group of the GHS, Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), International Maritime Hospital (IMAH), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFAoG), Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HEFRA), Ghana Association of Quasi Health Institutions (GAQHI) and NHIA and the Governing Board, and the World Bank were also represented. 

The meeting’s Chair, a member of the NHIA Governing Board, Dr. Isaac Charles Noble Morrison appreciated the level of enthusiasm attached to the event and implored the participants to give their valuable input. 

He said the meeting was in adherence to the NHIA Act 2012, (Act 852) section 34 subsection 1, which mandates the Authority to review the NHIS service list and service tariff in collaboration with healthcare providers. 

Dr. Morrison stated, “The NHIA Governing Board is committed to eliminating out-of-pocket payments. We need some data to work efficiently to be able to determine service tariffs that will endure the test of time. I urge you all here to provide the building blocks and elements that will go into decision making.”

Acting Director in charge of the Strategic Health Purchasing Directorate (SPHD), Dr. Ruby Aileen Mensah Annan (Mrs.) gave an overview of the development of the G-DRGs and NHIS service tariffs which required the active involvement of all critical stakeholders in the value chain.  

She outlined the objectives of the 2023-2024 G-DRG tariff review saying, “To review and develop the building blocks for each G-DRG to reflect the standard treatment pathways, required consumables and inputs and to ensure that the G-DRGsare costed in line with the treatment pathways outlined in the Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) of the Ministry of Health (MOH).”

“Other objectives connected to the 2023-2024 G-DRG tariff review is to reflect the current economic conditions and to ensure that concerns raised about the current tariffs are addressed in the review process.”

Dr. Mrs. Annan acknowledged the World Bank’s technical assistance for a comprehensive review of the NHIS tariff and emphasized that the assembled stakeholders were instrumental in determining the 2023-2024 NHIS tariffs and for its successful implementation.

Presenting the proposed methodology for the 2023/2024 review exercise, the review  consultant, Professor Adukwei Hesse called for an all-inclusive approach to the NHIS tariff review for 2023-2024.

“Let us all come together and provide the needed data for the determination  of the 2023-2024 NHIS service tariffs. When we are together, we are successful.”

The active participants from different fields made constructive input which was noted for further deliberations. 

A successful implementation of the proposed 2023-2024 NHIS tariff is expected to be based on the best available data provided by all the relevant stakeholders. 

 Source: ABDUL KARIM NAATOGMAH