NHIS was implemented by the Kufuor administration - GMA President asserts

The President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Frank Serebour, has refuted claims made by the association’s former General Secretary, Professor Titus K. Beyuo, regarding the initiation and implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

In an extensive interview with Pure FM’s Evans Osei-Bonsu, Dr. Frank Serebour clarified that contrary to Prof. Beyuo’s assertion that the scheme was first implemented by the NDC, he can confidently state that it was the administration of former President John Kufuor that implemented the policy.

He recalled the role that the GMA played in the policy formulation and execution when the NPP administration, led by the former President, sought the association’s inputs and expertise.

“We, as a group, do not involve ourselves in the politics of the policy. This is why we continue to express our concerns about the challenges the Scheme faces, despite seeing significant successes in addressing most of our concerns.

We played a crucial role in the formulation, piloting, and execution of the policy, and for that reason, I can affirm that it was H.E John Agyekum Kufuor’s government that originally initiated and piloted the concept of health insurance in Ghana, contrary to Professor Beyuo’s claim.”

Background

Professor Titus K. Beyuo, a former GMA Secretary and current parliamentary candidate for Lambussie on the NDC’s ticket, asserted during the second edition of Adom TV’s Badwam Sectorial Debate held at the Accra Digital Center on Friday, that claims by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the NHIS was established by its government under President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2003 were false.

According to him, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) originally birthed and implemented the concept of health insurance in Ghana.

“The NDC initiated health insurance with a National Health Insurance concept but faced strong opposition from the NPP, with Dr. Addo-Kufuor being particularly vocal. The concept of NHIS was first introduced under former President Jerry John Rawlings, who planned and piloted it.

“However, when the NPP came to power, they passed the NHIS Act, Act 650. This act established district mutual health schemes, private mutual health insurance schemes, and commercial ones, but there was no provision for a national scheme, despite the act being called a national insurance act. The NDC later repealed that act and established a truly national scheme,” Prof Beyuo explained.