Workers reject SSNIT deductions to finance Health Insurance

Koforidua, Aug 15, GNA- Workers in the Eastern Region have objected to the government's decision to deduct 2.5 per cent of workers' Social Security and National Insurance (SSNIT) contribution to finance the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The workers also opposed the proposal in the bill to introduce a 2.5 per cent tax on all transactions and expenditures to finance the proposed scheme.

This was contained in a resolution at the end of a one-day Regional Consultative Meeting on the proposed National Health Insurance Bill organised by the members of the Eastern Regional Labour Forum. Representatives of the Civil Servants Association (CSA), Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Ghana Registered Nurses Association and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) attended the forum. The Forum suggested that funds from the Government Exemption Policy and the funds used to refund workers medical bill should be channelled into the Health Insurance Fund.

The resolution criticised the bureaucracy that would be established by the creation of District Insurance Council arguing that the cost involved would be too expensive and, therefore, suggested the empowering and dependence on local and community based management of the schemes.

The workers suggested that the district assemblies should be made to exercise oversight responsibility over the scheme. It suggested that sufficient time be allowed for public debate on the issue.

Mr Jerry Addo of the Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU) who chaired the function, asked that contributors must be consulted before part of their contributions was spent on government projects.