Technical breakdown of the network by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) machines for almost three months in the registration centres in parts of Accra including Dansoman, Sowutuom, Awoshie, Mallam Junction and Lapaz, has made hundreds of prospective clients of NHIS stranded in these centres.
The disturbing situation, according to information available to Today, has compounded the slowdown issuance of the NHIS cards in these centres in the Greater Accra Region to the disadvantage of clients of the NHIS cards.
When Today visited some of the NHIS centres at Dansoman, Awoshie and Sowutwom in Accra on Wednesday, November 6, 2017, this paper observed that these centres had been shut down for close to three months due to breakdown of the system, making it impossible for NHIS cards to be issued or renewed.
The situation of the technical breakdown of the system, Today understands has left many clients of the scheme stranded in the offices of the NHIS registration centres in these areas in Accra.
In an interview with Today, a pregnant woman from Sowutuom, Madam Elizabeth Aheto, lamented that she had visited Abeka Lapaz and Mallam Junction registration centres to check whether she could register for the NHIS since “the one close to my house at Sowutoum had not been operational for two months.”
According to distraught woman, the response from the officials of NHIS at the centres was that their system had developed a technical problem so they cannot issue or renew NHIS cards.
Another frustrated woman, Madam Cynthia Tawiah, bitterly complained to Today that she has been going to the Dansoman and Mallam Junction NHIS centres for the past five weeks but had still not been served.
She asked: “are we supposed to wait for the management of the NHIA to finish before we can go and access healthcare at a government hospital?”
Meanwhile, Today’s investigations have revealed that the technical breakdown of the machines at the NHIS registration centres has compelled others, especially pregnant women and the aged, to pay cash at healthcare centres since they cannot renew their expired NHIS cards.
Story: Freeman KORYEKPOR AWLESU
Writer’s email freeman.koryekpor@todaygh.com