The Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has partnered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve healthcare access and strengthen health security for students on campus.
The engagement, facilitated by SRC President Edward Benevolent Nyamekye, was held at the UHAS Main Campus at Sokode-Lokoe and brought together University Management, student leaders and officials from the Volta Regional NHIS.
In her remarks, Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Professor Lydia Aziato, highlighted the University’s rapid growth—from 154 students in 2012 to nearly 11,000 currently—and stressed the need to ensure that NHIS membership translates into real healthcare benefits at service points.
She underscored the importance of expanding support for critical conditions such as breast cancer and other life-threatening diseases, noting that many Ghanaians still struggle to afford treatment despite being insured.
The NHIS delegation, led by Acting Volta Regional Director Ms. Suzan Chobbah, explained that the visit formed part of the Scheme’s Campus Connect initiative. The programme seeks to position NHIS as a student-centred healthcare partner, expand student enrolment and intensify public education on benefits and entitlements under the scheme.
Discussions during the meeting addressed concerns including the effectiveness of generic medications, distinctions between private health insurance packages and NHIS coverage, quality assurance in healthcare delivery, and the need for sustained client education to help beneficiaries better understand their rights.
SRC leaders advocated for the engagement to become an annual initiative to safeguard students’ health and promote consistent dialogue between the University and NHIS.
Also present at the meeting were UHAS Registrar Ms. Yaa Amankwaa Opuni, Dean of Students Professor Judith Torgbor, and the Volta Regional NHIS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Christopher Galenkui.
The collaboration signals a renewed effort to align student welfare with national health policy objectives while ensuring that access to healthcare remains a priority within the University community.
