A delegation from Congo Brazzaville has been taken through a comprehensive implementation of Health Insurance in Ghana. The Central African country is preparing to roll-out a similar health insurance policy at home and considers Ghana a worthy and shining example to learn from. Touting the credential of the National Health Insurance in Ghana, the Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority, Sylvester Mensah said the country is a proud recipient of the Global Excellence Award by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), owing to its successful implementation of the policy. He was quick to add, however, that the policy in Ghana is not without its own challenges. Mr. Mensah took the seven-man delegation led by Minister of State Sinibaguy Nollet Bayi through a short presentation, detailing the blue prints of Ghana’s Health Insurance Policy. He explained the types of insurance policies under the scheme, structure, sources of income, expenditure and other issues of importance as far as the implementation of an accessible and effective Health Insurance policy is concerned. In an answer to a question posed by one of the delegates on the prudence and viability of the one-time premium policy frame work currently being considered by the government, Mr Mensah noted the premium constitutes between four to five per cent of the revenue needed for the implementation of the policy and could be shelved. According to him, in Thailand, subscribers do not pay any premium at all, and relies exclusively on tax revenue for the implementation of the policy. He said a one-time policy will eliminate some administrative challenges, including, yearly renewal of cards. Mr. Mensah however stated the authority is also considering running the one time premium policy concurrently with the existing policy in order to provide variety to the people. He said in the next few weeks the law, ACT 650, which establishes the NHIA, will be reviewed but stressed the one-time premium will not be part of the new law.