The proposed one-time premium payment under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is to take off next year. Modalities for the implementation are currently being worked out by a team of experts from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health. Deputy Director of the NHIA in charge of Corporate Affairs and Strategic Direction, Eric Ametor Quamyne, who disclosed this to the Times, said the programme would be launched by the end of the year after the modalities have been completed. He said the decision to implement the one-time premium was based on the report of the committee of experts which conducted feasibility studies on the proposal. The committee will also determine how much to be paid by subscribers as one time premium. Under the existing scheme, subscribers will pay between GH¢7.20 and GH¢48.00. Mr Quamyne said the Office of the Attorney-General was reviewing Act 650 of 2003, which established the NHIA for consideration by Cabinet and subsequent amendment by Parliament to give effect to the proposal. He said NHIA's own studies on the onetime payment showed that it was feasible. This is based on the fact that contributions of subscribers only constitute about 3.8 per cent of the financial requirements of the scheme. The rest of the financial requirement is made up of 2.5 per cent National Health Insurance Levy; 5 per cent SSNIT contribution paid monthly to the NHIA; government budgetary support, and NHIA investment income. He said a large segment of the public was already enjoying free health care under the scheme, including pregnant women, children below 18 years, people above 70 years and indigents. The Deputy Director said it should therefore not be too difficult for government to find additional resources to replace the current 3.8 per cent being the total contribution of subscribers. Besides, NHIA on its own, can be on a sound financial footing if existing loopholes that allow service providers to perpetrate fraud against the scheme are plugged. Source: Ghanaian Times/Ghana