Implementation of the “one time premium” by the National Health Insurance will take effect in September this year. The Deputy Director in Charge of Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning at NHIA, Eric Ametor-Quarmyne disclosed to Adom News that plans are far advanced to facilitate the implementation of the policy by the last quarter of the year. Prof. Agyemang Badu Akosa, spokesperson for the Convention People’s Party on Health, maintained that the one time premium for national health insurance is not feasible. He noted that pacesetters of the Health insurance schemes elsewhere are still hooked to annual premium payments, and questioned why Ghana, a country yet to attain the middle income status, is yearning to have the scheme different. Prof. Agyemang Badu Akosa told Adom News that funds for the scheme is woefully inadequate and it will not be economically prudent to adopt the one time premium. Prof Badu Akosa decried how health providers have increased their prices since the inception of the scheme. “Because government is footing the bills, some health providers have hiked the price of health services, making the scheme have limited funds to run its activities,” Prof. Badu Akosa lamented. He added that the development has contributed to the virtual collapse of the scheme, making the poor suffer more. But Mr. Ametor-Quarmyne insisted that despite all the doubts and criticisms, the policy will be implemented very soon. Story: Akuamoah Boateng/Adom News