The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is taking steps to include mental health treatment in the list of conditions covered by the scheme.
The NHIS is currently conducting actuarial analysis to ascertain the possibility and impact of adding mental health treatment to the scheme, in addition to a request for data from the Mental Health Authority.
The Chief Executive Officer of NHIS, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye who made the revelation stated that, the move would contribute to realizing the Akuffo-Addo-led government’s aim of meeting the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) targets and coverage for all Ghanaians.
Dr. Okoe Boye made the disclosure when representatives of Johnson and Johnson (J&J) pharmaceutical company visited him in his office in Accra to congratulate him on his appointment as the CEO of NHIS.
Dr Okoe Boye praised the Akuffo-Addo administration for taking steps towards achieving total healthcare for all Ghanaians and reducing financial barriers to accessing healthcare.
The effort by the NHIS comes as refreshing news to persons with mental health disabilities in the country who have always called on the government for such an intervention.
According to them, mental health treatment not being captured under the NHIS is seriously affecting them, as their medications are too expensive for many of them to afford.
The J&J team led by Kwabena Asante Offei disclosed that their outfit has researched and produced drugs for the treatment of some mental health conditions and prostrate cancer.
He expressed their willingness to collaborate with the NHIS to make the drugs accessible to the ordinary Ghanaian who would normally have to pay out of pocket for such medications.
Mr Asante Offei also revealed that, some of their mental health drugs could be administered only twice a year as against daily intake for the treatment of Schizophrenia.
Source: disabilitynewsgh.com