Takoradi, Aug. 13, GNA - Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health, on Tuesday said the government would subsidize health insurance schemes managed by the district assemblies and not private and commercial schemes run by non-governmental organisations. He was speaking at a public forum on the National Health Insurance Bill organised by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and Finance in Takoradi.
Dr Afriyie said non-governmental organizations could, however, negotiate with the district assemblies to operate under the district health insurance scheme.
He said the district health insurance schemes would be managed on day-to-day basis by a five-member management team who are to be paid by the schemes that are to be known as district health mutual organisations.
Dr Afriyie said the guidelines for the appointment of the members of the management team are yet to be released. The Boards, whose members would not be paid, and would work in voluntary capacity, would supervise the management teams. Dr Afriyie said the district assemblies would approve decisions of the Boards.
Mr Akwasi Akomea Kyeremanteng, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and Finance, called for acceptance of the scheme because it could improve health delivery and make health services readily available to all.
He said workers should not have fears that the scheme would collapse from poor financing as it would be supported with funds from reliable sources.
Mr Kyeremanteng, Member of Parliament for Agona West, said all residents in areas of the scheme would be expected to register and pay premiums.
He said a National Health Insurance Fund would be established into which two and half per cent workers' contributions to the Social Security National Insurance Trust would be paid.
Mr Kyeremanteng said the country's development partners; churches and non-governmental organisations that want to support health delivery could make contributions to the fund.
He said a National Health Insurance levy to impose a levy of two and a half per cent on economic activities has been proposed.
Mr Agyeman Manu, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said the government would continue to pay its contribution to the Social Security Scheme when the Health Insurance Bill comes into effect. He said workers would not be required to make any other payments to the health insurance in addition to their two and a half per cent social security contributions.
Mr Manu said workers could still enjoy enhanced pension scheme with their remaining social security contribution. He said funds given out by the Ghana AIDS Commission to some non-governmental organizations for HIV/AIDS campaign could not be traced.
Mr Manu said District Chief Executives and Members of Parliament in the areas where the NGOs operate have been tasked to help to find the money.
Mr Joseph Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, told workers that their retiring benefits would not be adversely affected by the scheme as there is going to be an in-built mechanism to adequately address that concern. 13 Aug. 03
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