16-member National Health Insurance Council appointed

Accra, April 26, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor in consultation with the Council of State has appointed 16-member National Health Insurance Council.

A statement issued in Accra on Monday and signed by Dr Samuel Owusu Agyei, Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, said Mr Frank Braku Adu Junior, Managing Director of Cal Merchant Bank, is the Chairman of the Council.


The members are, Mr Moses Dani Baah, Deputy Minister of Health, Representative of the Ministry; Dr Sam Adjei, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Health Service and Mr Akwasi Osei, Director General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).


The others are, Nene Sakite II, Konor of Manya Krobo, Consumer Representative; Mrs Victoria Naa-Adoley Apaloo, of National Investment Bank (NIB) Consumer Representative, Mr Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, representing the Ministry. Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning represents the Ministry; Mr J. E. K. Pratt is Mutual Health Insurance Representative, Ms Lydia Lariba Bawa represents Ghana Bar Association while Ms Josephine Jennifer Amoah is Ghana Insurance Commission Representative and Dr Kwakye Marfo represents Ghana Medical Association (GMA).


The rest are Mr Kofi Asamoah, Organised Labour Representative, Mrs Scholastica Mensah, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana Representative, Dr Samuel Akotey Akor; Acting Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The statement said a representative for the Private Health Insurance Operators Group would be announced later. A memorandum to the National Health Insurance Bill passed by Parliament on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 among other things said a regulatory Council the National Health Insurance Council with the objective of securing the implementation of the policy would be established.


"Among its functions are registering, licensing and supervising health insurance schemes and granting accreditation to healthcare providers and monitoring their performance."


It would also ensure that indigents are adequately catered for in managing the National Insurance Fund.


The membership of the Council includes representatives of stakeholders in the health delivery sector and organised labour.