The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) will on Monday July 27 begin the Northern regional phase of the nationwide biometric registration exercise.
The Authority has so far biometrically registered all it subscribers in eight regions.
The exercise is scheduled to commence in the first five districts for a start.
These include Bunkprugu/Yunyoo, West Mamprusi, East Mamprusi, Gushiegu and Karaga.
At a media briefing in Tamale, Director of Management Information Systems at the NHIA headquarters, Perry Nelson said the exercise aimed avoiding multiple registration which characterized the old data base.
He implied that exercise will authenticate data and address the recycling of phantom claims issued by service providers for reimbursement.
Perry Nelson revealed that the NHIA was inundated with a heap of uncollected identification cards, hence the decision to migrate all subscribers onto the digital data base.
He said during the exercise, preferential services will be rendered to pregnant women, children under five, the aged-elderly above 70 and first timers.
He advised old subscribers’ desirous renewal of their membership to do so after three months or less to the expiry date.
Perry Nelson explained that both the new and the old cards will be accepted at all NHIS accredited health care facilities until a complete replacement of the old ones.
He further allayed fears that subscribers will have to pay extra for the new cards.
He however reiterated the need for subscribers to pay the originally prescribed premium for health insurance.
Northern Regional Manager of the NHIA, Alhaji Hudu Iddrisu assured all NHIS subscribers in the region of quality services.
He said every NHIS accredited service provider or health facility in the region will receive finger print scanner, ID card reader and a personal computer.
He pleaded with the media to sensitize the general public on the importance of the biometric registration exercise.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana