The former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Badu Akosa has expressed his disappointment over government�s decision to still implement a one off-time premium for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Professor Akosa maintains the one off-time premium, can jeopardize the scheme which the previous government worked hard to establish.
�We should take politics and manifesto promises out of this. The scheme exists for the development of this country and any attempt to bring in politics would be a disaster,� he cautioned.
According to him, with the one off-time premium, �the government will have to pump a lot of money in operating the scheme and if it encounters any financial difficulties, the scheme will collapse,� adding that no country has been able to adopt the one off time premium.
�If we want improved health care delivery, then the one off-time premium is needless. We need to re-think the idea, but for me, I think the amount paid as premium should be across board and maintained,� he stressed.
However, the Public Relations Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr. Akwasi Acquah, insists government can successfully operate the one time policy without any hiccups.
�It is the wish of Gov�t that everyone enjoys access to quality health care, but it (gov�t) also recognizes that the paying of premium is a difficulty for most people, hence the decision to opt for a one off-time premium,� he explained.
The two were speaking on Peace FMs �Kokrokoo� morning Show regarding a Ghanaian Times newspaper publication today, August 31st, that �One Time NHIS On Course�.
The paper quoted the Deputy Minister of Health; Dr. Ben Kumbuor, as having said that �the government will succeed in delivering quality health care to citizens for the country through the one time premium policy.�
This was after a meeting held in Sogakpe at the weekend.
Source: John Nyaaba/Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |