The National Health Insurance Authority (National Health Insurance Authority) has begun piloting a new initiative known as the One-Time Attendance Code (OTAC) in the Ahafo Region as part of efforts to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the government’s free primary healthcare programme.
Speaking at a press briefing in Goaso, the Head of Information Technology at the NHIA, Joe Annor Darkwah, explained that the initiative is aimed at streamlining access to healthcare services and improving monitoring systems under the programme.
According to him, the NHIA has been tasked with ensuring the sustainability of the free primary healthcare policy and has therefore introduced the OTAC system to enhance efficiency and accountability.
Mr. Darkwah explained that under the new system, individuals seeking to access free primary healthcare services using either their NHIS cards or Ghana Card would be required to generate a unique attendance code.
The code, he noted, would be recognised by both the National Health Insurance Authority (National Health Insurance Authority) and health facilities to facilitate verification and payment to service providers.
“Any person who wishes to access free primary healthcare with either the NHIS card or Ghana Card must create and have a unique code which will be known to both the NHIA and the health facility to help the authority pay the facility as expected,” he stated.
He further indicated that the introduction of the OTAC initiative is intended to prevent abuse of the free healthcare programme and ensure that resources are used efficiently.
According to him, the measure is necessary to protect the integrity of the programme while improving quality healthcare delivery across the country.
Meanwhile, the NHIA Director for the Ahafo Region, George Mawuli, expressed optimism about the success of the pilot phase.
He described the region as privileged to host national executives of the NHIA for the implementation of the initiative.
Mr. Mawuli acknowledged that the exercise may present some challenges but said adequate measures and human resources have been put in place to ensure its success.
According to him, the Authority hopes to eventually expand the OTAC initiative to other parts of the country following the pilot phase in the Ahafo Region.
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