Greater Accountability and Responsiveness of the National Health Insurance Scheme to Rural and Informal Sector Populations
Issues of the NHIS implementation are one such theme that the LRC has addresses extensively for extended periods over the years. This is mostly done in the 2 Human Rights Cities in Bongo in the Upper East Region and Walewale in the Northern Region. Activities undertaken included the drafting of two constitutions for District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes and Procedure Manuals detailing the workings of the Schemes. In addition the LRC provided technical legal support to these two schemes. These projects helped foster numerous alliances both formal and informal such as Bongo District Civic Union, the Resource Centre for PWDs and Catholic Family Reproductive Health Project with the LRC to tackle the issues. These linkages have kept alive and deepened over the years.
LRC is embarking on this two year project in 3 communities in the district it has been working in, i.e. Bongo District in the Upper East Region & West Mamprusi District in the Northern Region.
Over the years, there have been various challenges that have been identified under the NHIS that affect the rate of NHIS registration and renewal. In 2009 for instance, up to 62% of the population had previously registered with NHIS but only 34% were holding valid ID cards and the rural & informal sector is no exception to this low registration and renewal.
Looking at the above challenges that affect NHIS registration and renewal rates, the LRC seeks to increase registration and renewal of NHIS membership in 3 communities namely Akundua, Soe-Kabre, Adaboya in the Bongo District and Gbimsi, Kukua and Sayoo in the West Mamprusi District.
LRC will collaborate with its Human Right Cities and both the district and National Health Schemes to achieve this.