The Director-General of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Kwesi Afreh Biney, says the institution is expanding its role beyond pension administration with the introduction of a telehealth service designed to improve healthcare access for pensioners across Ghana.
Speaking at the launch of the SSNIT Telehealth Service in Accra on Tuesday, June 2, Mr. Biney said the initiative reflects a shift in the organisation’s approach to social protection by addressing the broader wellbeing of retirees.
“Today we’re launching more than a service. It’s a new conversation about retirement dignity and what it brings.”
“Our telehealth service represents an important evolution in institutional thinking. It reflects a shift from being primarily a transactional pension administrator to becoming a more holistic social impact organisation, concerned with the broader well-being of our members,” he said.
The service, which is being implemented in partnership with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and The Trust Hospital, will allow pensioners to access medical consultations remotely from their homes.
According to Mr. Biney, the initiative responds directly to concerns raised by pensioners regarding difficulties in accessing healthcare, particularly for those living in remote communities or managing chronic health conditions.
“It’s about the pensioner in a remote community who no longer will have to endure long queues, exhaustive journeys just to have medical care. It’s about an elderly person managing a chronic condition who deserves consistent medical guidance, monitoring and follow-up support,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, described the launch as a significant step in Ghana’s digital health agenda and highlighted the role of telehealth in reducing barriers to healthcare access.
“Today’s launch is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when institutions work together to respond to the challenging and changing healthcare needs of Ghanaians, especially our pensioners,” he said.
Dr. Bampoe noted that telehealth enables patients to consult qualified healthcare professionals remotely, helping to reduce travel, waiting times and inconvenience.
He added that the service would also provide access to prescribed medications through participating pharmacies, creating what he described as a more seamless and patient-centred healthcare experience.
He further praised SSNIT for investing in innovative healthcare solutions that improve the quality of life of retirees and reaffirmed NHIA’s commitment to supporting the expansion of telehealth services nationwide.
General Secretary of the National Pensioners Association, Stephen Boakye, welcomed the initiative, saying it addressed one of the most persistent concerns raised by pensioners.
“As pensioners, healthcare is not an occasional need. For many of us, it is part of daily life,” he said.
“Access to healthcare always comes out as one of the issues that matter most to us. This is why we are very happy with this telehealth service because it has been designed around the needs of pensioners,” he added.
He said the ability to consult a doctor from home would make healthcare more convenient, accessible and less stressful for retirees, while expressing confidence in the long-term sustainability of the programme due to the collaboration among SSNIT, NHIA, The Trust Hospital and the Pensioners Medical Scheme.
The National Pensioners Association pledged to support the initiative by promoting awareness among its members and providing feedback to help improve service delivery.
