Reduce exemption age for aged under NHIS- Herbalist

Keta, (V/R) May 7, GNA - Agbotadua Kumasah, a Traditional Ruler at Dzelukope in the Keta District has appealed to government to reduce the exemption age for the aged under National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) from 70 to 60 years. He was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Keta on Thursday.

Under the NHIS, people above 70 years are allowed to access the scheme without paying the yearly levy.

Agbotadua Kumasah was of the opinion that with an average national life expectancy of 53 years for men and 56 for women, many people would not live to age 70 to enjoy the benefit.

"Let us be seen to be rewarding our citizens through facilities like this for their toils for the nation," Agbotadua Kumasah said. He described the scheme as innovative but said the entire health delivery system must be strengthened with additional facilities and more effective supervision methods to avoid the abuse and collapse of the scheme.

Agbotadua Kumasah said there was also the need for the constant re-orientation of health personnel and an unending education of the public to remove the "rough urges of the scheme to attract more patronage and smooth operation."