TITLE:
Examining the Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Use of the Mobile Renewal Service in Ghana
AUTHORS:
Amma Addae-Nketiah
KEYWORDS:
Benefits, Challenges, National Health Insurance Scheme, Mobile Renewal Service
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.4,
April
28,
2022
ABSTRACT: This paper presents the findings of a study that examined the benefits
and problems related with subscribers’ use of the Mobile Renewal Service (MRS)
technology launched by the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana. The study
adopted a descriptive survey method where questionnaires were administered to
500 respondents in 11 Districts of the Northern Region of Ghana. The study
reveals the benefits associated with the use of the Mobile Renewal Service as:
significant reduction in the time for renewal, which respondents agreed that
NHIS members are able to renew without incurring travel costs and that this
directly translates into monetary savings as a result of the implementation of
the mobile renewal service. The study further revealed: Lack of user understanding of steps involved in
using MRS; Mobile network challenges in renewing premium; Subscriber resistance
to switch from manual renewal method to mobile renewal service mode; and Lack
of knowledge and skills on how to use MRS as challenges Subscribers face in
using the Mobile Renewal Service.