The Minority in Parliament has said government is intentionally delaying funds for the National Health Insurance Scheme in an attempt to collapse it.
Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said government paid only 6.2 percent of the total funds needed for the Scheme at the end of last year.
According to him, several calls on the Finance Minister to release NHIS levies meant for the Scheme have not yielded any result.
“Unfortunately, there rather seems to be an unwavering effort to collapse the NHIS by depriving it of funds. As we speak, the highest release of national health insurance levies collected was in 2016 when 86 of the collections were released to the National Health Insurance Authority.
“The lowest on record is that of last year where government out of the GH¢2.056 billion it collected, paid only GHC127 million or 6.2 percent to the national health insurance fund,” he told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday.
He expressed worry that patients are being forced to bear the full cost of accessing healthcare due to the non-release of funds to the NHIA.
It would be recalled that at a recent news conference, members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana threatened to pass the full cost of medicines to patients if government does not intervene.
Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh bemoaned the delay in the release of the funds to the NHIS providers.
He said the delay could contribute to a high mortality rate among patients and urged the government to pay the NHIA to avert unnecessary deaths and pain.
“Under the current economic conditions, more Ghanaians than ever before, will require the NHIS to finance their medical needs. It is therefore unconscionable for the government to hold on to monies collected in the name of the National Health Insurance Authority rendering it incapable of meeting its obligation to service providers. This is going to increase morbidity and mortality across Ghana.”
Meanwhile, Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu has admitted that delays in the payment of claims is forcing service providers to pass on the cost to patients.
He, however, assured Parliament that the NHIA is working to improve on its claim payment systems.
Latest Stories
-
Easter celebration: Ghana AIDS Commission to distribute free condoms in Kwahu
11 mins -
Zeepay secures additional $3m from Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund
18 mins -
Over 70% of power outages were due to planned maintenance works – ECG to PURC
21 mins -
Access Bank partners Horseman Shoes to boost local shoe manufacturing industry
32 mins -
Election 2024: Don’t vote for candidates making empty promises – CDD to Ghanaians
37 mins -
IGP shares Easter safety tips on Adom FM’s ‘Ofie Kwanso’
1 hour -
Ebo Whyte offers fully-funded trip as he unveils new play ‘Dubai or No Sex’
1 hour -
Ancient culture of Anlo Kingdom: Exploring “Torkor Atorlia,” the fifth landing stage’s old ways of punishment
1 hour -
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Botswana, Cameroon and Sierra Leone to lead discussions at Africa Finance Corporation’s (AFC) 4th Country & Stakeholder Symposium
2 hours -
Network International Delivers Strong 2023 Revenue growth at 15% y/y and free cashflow growth of 16% y/y
2 hours -
President Akufo-Addo extends Easter Greetings to Ghanaians, urges safe drive
2 hours -
Government pushes for use of more local materials in housing, other infrastructure projects
3 hours -
Dr Bawumia extends Easter greetings to Christians
3 hours -
CAF Confederation Cup: ‘Ghanaians should expect victory against Stade Malien’ – Dreams FC forward Ishmael Dede
3 hours -
CAF Confederation Cup: ‘We want to go there and win’ – Karim Zito on Stade Malian clash
4 hours