An attempt by the Deputy Health Minister to explain how difficult it will be for government to implement the one-time premium payment under the National Health Insurance Scheme has provoked a national apology from his boss, Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor. Rojo Mettle Nunoo on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday quoted details of what he says is an actuarial report conducted by government on the one time premium policy. According to him, each Ghanaian per the going premium rate, would be required to pay no less than GH¢600.00 before the one-time premium policy could be possible. But this he admitted, was quite expensive. He was brought to parliament to answer a question on behalf of the substantive minister on whether the actuarial report on the one-time premium policy was out and the details thereof. Just hours after his delivery, the Health Minister who is out of the capital on an official duty told Joy News’ Evans Mensah his deputy was not properly briefed, forcing him the minister to issue a national apology. “I think it is a very unfortunate development. We need to apologise to the people of this country, we need to apologise to parliament for apparently trying to mislead them, and we need to apologise to cabinet itself,” According to him, the government has not sanctioned any actuarial report puting definite figures on the cost of implementing the one-time premium payment. “There is no indication whatsoever that an actuary study has been carried out, accepted as a government position and forms the basis in terms of statistics and figures on the one-time premium payment. And I think it was unfortunate and we will take all necessary steps to correct it.” He explained that the details of the report read by his deputy were that of a research carried out by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and was purely based on management and administrative decisions. He said his deputy read only one of five other scenarios embedded in the report conducted by the NHIA, insisting that cabinet was yet to take a decision on which of the scenarios to adopt in implementing the policy. Dr Kumbuor maintained that “the policy of one-time payment is doable.” The National Democratic Congress as part of the 2008 electioneering campaign promised to introduce a one-time premium if elected into government to free Ghanaians from the annual premiums. But the minority ranking member on Health, Dr. Richard Anane said such a policy will bring the entire health insurance policy to its knees. He explained that the policy ceases to become an insurance if the one-time premium is to be implemented. Dr Anane said such a policy was only a political talk which should not be implemented. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview with Dr Kumbuor Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana