Onetime premium is possible - Sherry Ayittey

Minister Designate for Heath, Sherry Ayittey has indicated the one-time premium promised by the NDC in its 2008 manifesto is achievable.

This is in contrast to the position taken by stakeholders in the health sector who have unanimously kicked against the implementation of the onetime health premium policy of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) predicting it would collapse the scheme.

The One-time premium payment for registration with the NHIS became a major issue when the NDC failed to implement it within their first term as stated in their 2008 manifesto.

Taking her turn before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday, Madam Sherry Ayittey said the one-time premium is not impossible if the tax base is broadened.

“As I sit here, I think it is possible that we can have onetime premium we have to look at the mathematics broaden the tax base. We need to broaden the tax base get more people in the informal sector also to pay more tax. Because current only the formal sector that the internal revenue can track easily because your salaries are deducted at source and your SSNIT contribution is deducted at source.”

The Health Minister designate also noted that a better collaboration with the internal revenue sector could ensure that enough revenue is generated “so that we can to achieve the One-time premium and also to close the leakages and some of the setbacks within the national health insurance to improve the financial status.”