The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would soon introduce a uniform national health insurance identification card.

The uniform ID card when introduced can be used in any part of the country by members of the Scheme.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra Wednesday April 30, 2008, Executive Director of the NHIS, Mr. Ras Boateng said, towards making the scheme more efficient, a uniform national ID card would be introduced in May.

He said holders of the ID card would be able to access medical care from any part of the country. Currently, scheme members can only access health services in the areas at which they are registered.

According to Mr. Boateng, over 700 hospitals in the country would be equipped with data storage equipment for easy access of data of scheme members, to make for easy access of medical services.

He also said more drugs have been added to the drugs list of the scheme and a new logo has also been designed to give the scheme a new look.

The change however, according to the NHIS would be done in phases. New members would be given the new card and old members would be given the new one on renewal of their insurance after expiration.

What that means is that, the old cards would still be in use, until a member’s insurance is due for renewal.


Emmanuel K. Dogbevi