The Provider Relations Unit within the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) orchestrated an intensive sensitization initiative at the Nima Polyclinic in the Greater Accra Region.

The campaign, convened in response to concerns about alleged illicit payments arising from an incident involving an NHIS member and the facility, took place over two days: Thursday, 19 February and Friday, 20 February 2026.

The delegation was spearheaded by Mrs. Hamdiya Alhassan Yakubu, Deputy Director PCR.

And comprised Mr . Judge Opoku Sarkodie, senior manager PCR Mr. Isaac Boamah-Darko (Manager) Adriana Akyaa Afriyie, Esq. (Senior Officer), Juliet Asamoah (Senior Officer), and Hadassah Seli Agbenyo (Officer). In pursuance of the Scheme’s mission and vision to deliver sustainable and equitable healthcare, the team engaged clinic personnel and management to recalibrate operational praxis and safeguard beneficiaries’ entitlements.

The objective of the engagement was to edify clinical staff on NHIS operational protocols and to reinforce the requisite standards that ensure members fully avail themselves of entitled benefits. The team was cordially received by the facility’s Administrator, Mr. Abdul Aziz Baturi, the Medical Superintendent and the Midwife, Mrs. Laryea.

Throughout structured interactions with management and frontline staff, the NHIA delegation delivered comprehensive briefings on NHIS procedures, delineated covered services and enumerated approved pharmaceuticals. Emphasis was placed on the imperative of transparent and efficacious communication with patients regarding their NHIS benefits.

Staff were counselled to desist from imposing proprietary (branded) medications on NHIS members and to afford patients the option of electing between NHIS-covered services and alternative therapeutic options where applicable.

The deliberations revealed that some personnel exhibited insufficient familiarity with NHIS policy and coverage parameters. Staff expressed appreciation for the educational intervention and acknowledged its salutary value. Management disclosed that the facility’s laboratory currently lacks accreditation under the NHIS; the NHIA team encouraged and advised the administration to pursue accreditation expeditiously to augment service delivery to NHIS members.

In an interview, Administrator Abdul Aziz Baturi and Midwife Mrs. Laryea lauded the NHIS for its impactful interventions and proactive educational outreach. They pledged to institute strict compliance with NHIS policies and urged the Authority to conduct periodic sensitization visits to fortify adherence and collaborative engagement.

The sensitization exercise reaffirmed the National Health Insurance Authority’s commitment to deepening collaboration with healthcare providers and ensuring rigorous adherence to NHIS policy. The engagement enabled the identification and remediation of knowledge deficits, reinforced compliance benchmarks, and promoted transparency in service provision. Going forward, the NHIA indicated it will intensify provider education and monitoring to safeguard the interests of its members and to uphold the integrity of the Scheme.

By: PCR

Photo Credit: Sylvester Pappoe