The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched the free Annual Health Check-up (AHC) policy aimed at improving healthcare among Ghanaians.
The AHC policy which will be under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) package seeks to offer free health screening for hypertension diabetes and body mass index checks as well as counselling and referrals where needed, for all Ghanaians 18 years and above.
The policy is also aimed at addressing the surge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which currently account for over 40 percent of deaths in the country annually.
Launching the policy in Accra on Monday, July 29 under the theme, “Addressing NCDs and Chronic Diseases in Ghana,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NHIA, Dr. Dacosta Aboagye, disclosed that the AHC reinforces the Authority’s commitment to preventive healthcare as key to achieving global health targets.
“Early detection and interventions can prevent serious health conditions, reducing the burden of diseases and improve quality of life. Our free AHC programme is designed with these goals in mind. By offering free comprehensive screening annually, we aim to identify potential health issues at an early stage, allowing for timely treatments and management,” he stated.
Dr. Aboagye further explained that all citizens already registered with the scheme would be able to access the package once they dial a short code, *929*1, during their birth month to access a special ticket which would be generated and sent to any NHIA-accredited health facility for free care.
He therefore encouraged all eligible persons to take advantage of the package adding that by participating in this free AHC programme, you are not only safeguarding your health but also contributing to a healthier and more productive nation.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, stated that the economic burden of NCDs were often way above the earnings of the average Ghanaian.
According to him, the alarming statistics and its resulting socio-economic cost on the citizenry called for urgent steps to change the approach to healthcare delivery in the country, from curative to more preventive and promotive measures to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
In view of that, he said the GHS has rolled out wellness clinics in all its facilities nationwide, as well as taken steps to promote paediatric and geriatric care for the population.
“It is, therefore, heart-warming that the NHIA is enhancing its package to promote health checks. This clearly will be a game changer and will go a long way to complement efforts of the health system and we look forward to its implementation,” he stated.
