The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has launched a telehealth service that allows pensioners to consult doctors remotely, widening their benefits beyond monthly pension payments.
SSNIT introduced the platform with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Trust Hospital. It aims to ease access to care for retirees, especially those who live far from health facilities or manage chronic conditions, by cutting the distance, travel and waiting time involved in seeing a doctor.
SSNIT Director-General Kwesi Afreh Biney said the service reflects a shift in how the Trust views its role. He described it as a move from being mainly a pension administrator to a broader social impact organisation focused on members’ overall well being. “Healthcare needs are increasing, people are ageing, and access gaps still exist,” he said.
NHIA Chief Executive Dr Victor Asare Bampoe said telehealth is reshaping how care is delivered worldwide and would make access easier and faster for pensioners. He said folding the service into the NHIA’s ecosystem expands access while preserving the quality and continuity of care.
The National Pensioners Association welcomed the launch as timely. General Secretary Stephen Boakye said the move showed that pensioners’ concerns had been heard, noting that many retirees need regular medical attention and ongoing support for chronic conditions.
