The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama says ¢1.4 billion will be used to fund the Free Primary Healthcare policy if giving the nod come December 7.

In an interview with journalists from The Multimedia Group, the former President stated that an estimated amount for the primary healthcare per person will be an average of eight dollars.   

“Our estimate for the primary healthcare will come to an average of eight dollars per person so if you calculate it we need about ¢1.4 billion a year to fund the primary healthcare policy.”

Outlining the funding sources for the healthcare policy, he stated that, the ¢1.4 billion will come from the Capping and Realignment Policy of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) fund.

According to the Capping and Realignment Act, the finance minister is required to take 25% of the excess fund into the consolidated funds.

The flagbearer also noted that government takes almost a billion cedis from the NHIS fund every year.

“Because of the Capping and Realignment policy, the government takes almost a billion cedis out of National health Insurance every year.”  

Aside from the NHIS excess fund, he added that another ¢1.4 billion from ABFA will be spent to finance the ”Healthcare for All” policy.

The ABFA is the amount of petroleum revenues allocated to support public investment expenditure aligned with the countries development plan.

“If we take another ¢1.4 billion to fund health for all I think it’s in order.”