Cash and carry system cannot be abolished

The Health Insurance Scheme (HIS) will succeed if it is operated alongside the cash and carry system, a study on the formation of Mutual Health Organisations (MHOs) has revealed.

The research conducted by Partners for Health Reform (PHR-Plus) said the cash and carry system could be abolished completely when majority of Ghanaians understood the scheme and were capable and willing to contribute.

Dr Kyei Faried, Ashanti Regional Deputy Director of Health Services, said this at a workshop on MHOs at Asante-Mampong for a cross-section of the people in the Sekyere West district organised by PHR-Plus and sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to disseminate results of the study.

Five health insurance options were proposed for consideration and adoption, which all demanded beneficiaries contributing towards the scheme.

The research recommended that the roads linking Mampong to the areas to be covered under the scheme should be improved to enable patients get assess to quality health services at the Government Hospital.

Dr Faried said some health facilities had to be upgraded to meet the expectations of the people, adding that, prospects for the implementation of the scheme in the district were bright.

Mr Samuel O. Kusi-Appiah, District Co-ordinating Director, said the only way a nation could develop was for the people to accept challenges and urged Ghanaians to accept the health insurance initiative to improve health delivery.