Cash and carry to go within the next three months

The "Cash and Carry" system at the country's hospitals would be replaced within the next three months by the National Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr Edward Marfo, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health said on Monday.

Ironically, this pronouncement comes on the heals of Minister for Information - Jake Obetsebi Lamptey - announcement that the New Patriotic Party (NPP's) electoral promise to abolish cash and carry was not an absolute one, the Ministry of Health has stated that the "Cash and Carry" system will be scrapped in three months.

Mr Marfo, who was speaking at a press briefing in connection with the death of Miss Eva Boadu last weekend as a result of renal failure, said the scheme was about 80 per cent complete.

He attributed the mix-up on Miss Boadu's case to communication gap, and said the most important thing was to ensure the situation did not recur rather than to apportion blame.

The cash and carry system was a campaign issue during the last elections with the NPP promising to abolish the system when it comes to power.

After eleven months, that promise has not been fulfilled. In the wake of the Eva Boadu death, the Information minister said, that promise which is contained in their manifesto is not absolute.

Some officials have also said that the system will only be modified. Government has also indicated that it is evaluating the health insurance scheme already on pilot basis in some districts.

The insurance scheme is expected to replace the cash and carry system.