The annually convened stakeholder forum reviews and adjusts prices of medicines the NHIA pays to its service providers.

The review is to ensure that prices the NHIA pays for medicines on the NHIS Medicines List reflect market and economic realities.

Medicines constitute a big part of NHIA’s expenditure with almost 50% of its total claims spending going into medicines for the 2015 year. It has been argued that an efficient medicine supply chain would translate to cost savings for the NHIS.

Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Martha Lutterodt, who chaired the forum on behalf of the Health Minister at last Wednesday’s programme, announced that as part of the drug procurement processes, the Ministry is adopting the framework contracting model to bolster efficiency in the country’s procurement of medicines which will subsequently help drive down prices.

She underscored the importance of the event as an annual statutory requirement that sought to create a platform for dialogue on the prices of medicines in order to determine realistic prices for medicines as this has a direct correlation with the sustainability of the NHIS.

“The NHIS is a national asset and belongs to all of us therefore we must ensure that the prices they pay for medicines are realistic as it impacts directly on the sustainability of the scheme. The scheme remains vital to families in both urban and rural areas and must be safeguarded” she said.

The Director of Provider Payment at the NHIA, Anthony Gingong, in his remarks emphasized how the NHIA valued the cordial relationship it has with its stakeholders and the need for regular and timely review of medicines on the NHIS and their prices.

Acknowledging the contributions of stakeholders in the Medicines List review process, Mr. Gingong stressed the NHIA’s commitment to continue working with the stakeholders in the pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure quality medicines are accessible and affordable to the Scheme.

A technical committee has been constituted to finalize the document, taking note of all suggestions made at the stakeholder meeting after which a report will be presented to the NHIA Management for onward delivery to the Minister of Health for approval.

The NHIS has 517 different formulations of medicines on its list for all conditions covered under the Scheme’s benefit package.

The Stakeholder meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Ghana National Drugs Program, Ghana Medical Association, Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners, Food and Drugs Authority, Chamber of Pharmacy and a host of other agencies.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NHIA meets stakeholders to review prices of listed medicines for 2017 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

While the Electoral Commission (EC) is insisting persons who registered for special voting should be allowed to vote at the various constituencies they had been designated to, Citi News’ Fred Djabanor who reported from Klottey Korle, stated that he was not allowed to vote because the returning officer indicated that he was not a registered voter in that particular constituency.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cn2qaL8ypRPaSe27aQaeVa6iBzDi7GTx”]“We were informed by the returning officer here at the voting centre that if you are not a registered voter within the Klottey Korle constituency, you cannot vote despite the fact that your name is on the special list of voters. We are told that per the directives you are suppose to go back to your constituency where you registered and go check whether you will be allowed to vote. People who are not original voters here cannot vote,” Fred reported.

He further stated that, some police and military personnel who could not find their names on the special voters list were very upset.

“Some Police and security personnel are very angry. According to them, their names were on the special voters’ list but when they came here; they were told their names were not here and they cannot vote.”

Some security personnel who spoke to Citi News also expressed their frustration.

One security official said : “I’m going to the North, how can I go there, come back to Accra on December 7, vote and go back?”

Another said; “If we are being treated like this, how much more a pure water seller on December 7?”

Responding to these concerns, the Public Relations Officer of the Electoral Commission, Eric Dzapasu, said the Commission will take measures to immediately resolve the challenges.

He believes the returning officer at Klottey Korle might have erred in refusing to allow the affected persons to cast their ballot.

70 police officers’ names missing in N/R

Meanwhile Citi News’ Northern Regional correspondent, Abdul Karim Natogmah, reported that about 70 police officers could not find their names on the special voters’ list, despite registering for the exercise.

He said the Tamale Metro Police Commander could also not find his name on the special voters’ list.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Voters angry over ‘missing’ names in special voting exercise appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.