The government’s Free Primary Healthcare Policy is intended to supplement the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), not to replace it, as President John Dramani Mahama has made clear.
Speaking at the policy’s introduction in Accra today, Wednesday, April 15, he clarified that patients in the community will receive primary healthcare services under the initiative at no cost.
He states that Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) complexes will provide free basic screening and treatment for common diseases including cholera and malaria.
Patients would only be referred to higher-level facilities when absolutely necessary, he stated.
“The Free Primary Healthcare complements the National Health Insurance and so at that level it is free of charge. You go, the screening everything is free of charge. If it is a basic illness like malaria your CHPS compound will have the medication for malaria. If it is a basic illness like cholera your CHPS compound will have the basic drugs for you,” he said.
President Mahama further stated that patients would be directed to district health institutions for treatment using their NHIS cards in cases requiring more advanced care, like as chronic high blood sugar.
“But if they take your blood sugar and your blood sugar is high you can change it with diets, but if it persists then they will have to refer you to the district level and at the district level you will use your National Health Insurance card to get the treatment and the drugs you require,” he explained.
He stressed that the new policy is meant to complement the current insurance system while bolstering healthcare services at the local level.
“So the Free Primary Healthcare is complementary to the National Health Insurance. It is not coming to replace it, it is coming to complement it,” he continued.
Source: newsthemegh.com