The Minority in Parliament has urged the Bawumia-led Economic Management Team to instruct the Finance Minister to release and transfer all pending payments to the National Health Insurance Fund.
This, the minority says is to prevent the scheme from being jeopardized due to a lack of funds.
The caucus has also called on the Finance Minister to fully adhere to the provisions of the National Health Insurance Act (Act 852).
They argue that the neglect of the scheme has pushed the NHIS into a critical financial state, posing a threat to its very existence.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, in a statement on May 24, noted, “The Minority, therefore, calls on the Bawumia-led Economic Management Team to direct the Minister responsible for Finance to release and transfer all outstanding payments to the National Health Insurance Fund by close of the week to prevent the scheme from being imperilled due to lack of funds.”
“Furthermore, we urge the Minister responsible for Finance to fully comply with the provisions of the National Health Insurance Act (Act 852), as non-compliance has clear consequences outlined in the Act.”
Mr Akandoh highlighted that the NHIA is in a state of bankruptcy, as it has not received any releases from the Ministry of Finance this year. Moreover, their checks at the Bank of Ghana reveal that the National Health Insurance Fund has less than GHS1.0 million.
He expressed the minority’s outrage at the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-led administration’s blatant disregard for the sustenance of the National Health Insurance Scheme, which has resulted in its current bankrupt financial position.
“This gross and wanton neglect has driven the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) into a precarious financial state of comatose requiring intensive care services to save it from impending and inevitable collapse.
“In fact, the NHIA is bankrupt because it has not received any releases from the Ministry of Finance this year. In addition, our checks at the Bank of Ghana show that the National Health Insurance Fund has less than GHS1.0 million. This a fund that is bankrupt, to say the least.”
In an interview granted this morning by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Dacosta Aboagye, on JoyNews’ AM show, he stated that since his appointment, “we are still waiting for them [Ministry of Finance] to do releases” to the authority.
Source” myghanadaily
