Ensure sustainability of NHIS - Okyehene urges

The Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has urged the new management of the National Health Insurance Authority to institute measures in ensuring a sustainable and efficient scheme for all Ghanaians.

Speaking during the courtesy call paid on him by the Chief Executive of the NHIS, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin advised the Chief Executive Officer to ensure that he achieves great strides and success during his tenure.

“You occupy a sensitive area within the health delivery sector and that must be taken seriously. I urge you to get to the depth of the challenges confronting the scheme and institute measures even if it means changing structures that will ensure the sustainability of the scheme,” he said.

He also charged the Management of the scheme to emulate progress made in other advanced countries and to use knowledge acquired to help shape the development of the scheme for the people of Ghana.

For his part, Dr Yaw Annor assured the King of his readiness to implement policies, mainly contained in the NPP manifesto, to transform the scheme for the benefit of its subscribers. He used the occasion to assure the general public of government’s commitment in defraying the huge debt-saddled by the scheme and indicated that his outfit is already in the process of paying the over 1 Billion debt it inherited. The meeting was to introduce the new Chief Executive.

The NHIA Boss has in recent times, met with various stakeholders to familiarize himself with their concerns and outlined President Akufo Addo and the NPP government’s vision to transform the NHIS to providing affordable and sustainable access to health to all Ghanaians.

The idea for the National Health Insurance Scheme was conceived by former President John Kufuor who when seeking the mandate of the people in the 2000 elections, promised to abolish the cash and carry system of health delivery.

Under the cash and carry system, the health need of an individual was only attended to after initial payment for the service was made.

Even in cases when patients had been brought into the hospital on emergencies it was required that money was paid at every point of service delivery.

Upon becoming President, former President Kufuor pushed through his idea of getting rid of “cash and carry” and replacing it with an equitable insurance scheme that ensured that treatment was provided first before payment for Ghanaian citizens.

In 2003, the scheme was passed into law. Under the law, there was the establishment of Ghana National Health Insurance Authority which licenses, monitors and regulates the operation of health insurance schemes in Ghana. Like many countries in the world, Ghana's health insurance was fashioned out to meet specific needs of Ghanaian citizens.

The National Health Insurance Scheme is a form of National health insurance established by the Government of Ghana. The scheme provides equitable access and financial coverage for basic health care services to the Ghanaian population. The objective of the NHIC is to secure the implementation of the national health insurance policy that ensures access to basic healthcare services to all residents of Ghana.[4]