Statement: 2012 NHIS Stakeholder meeting to discuss scheme sustainability

Stakeholders of the National Health Insurance Scheme will later this week meet for the NHIS annual stakeholder meeting.

This year’s engagement which is on the theme, “Re-engineering the Financial Architecture of the NHIS,” comes off from December 20-21, 2012.

The forum provides a platform for key stakeholders to deliberate on the Sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme, including a discussion on the One Time premium payment plan as well as collate the results of the deliberations into a report on options for sustainable healthcare financing for Ghana.

Below is the full statement

2012 NHIS Stakeholder meeting to discuss Sustainability of the Scheme Stakeholders of the National Health Insurance Scheme will later this week converge for the NHIS annual stakeholder meeting. This year’s engagement which is on the theme, “Re-engineering the Financial Architecture of the NHIS,” comes off from December 20-21, 2012. The forum provides a platform for key stakeholders to deliberate on the the Sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme including a discussion on the One Time premium payment plan as well as collate the results of the deliberations into a report on options for sustainable healthcare financing for Ghana.

Deputy Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs, Dr Anang Adjetey pointed out that “the issues tabled for stakeholders’ consideration, mainly sustainability and the One-Time Premium Payment Policy, going forward, will help to clearly define the future policy direction for the scheme.”

It would be recalled that the President on September 4, 2012, issued a set of policy directives to be implemented by the end of the year. Among other things, the President directed an evaluation and determination of the adequacy of the cost containment strategies of the NHIA. He also asked for the engagement of “critical stakeholders for an open consideration of options for the long term sustainability of the NHIS, including a discussion of the One Time Premium payment policy.”

The meeting which is expected to be opened by H.E President John Dramani Mahama, brings together various stakeholders from across the country.

The forum will also be grounds for technical experts on the subject of social health financing to propose and discuss innovative ways of enhancing the sustainability of the NHIS which has become a model for many countries across the world.

The 2012 Stakeholder Engagement follows the coming into effect of the new law, Act 852, 2012 which governs the NHIS.The new law will also be launched at this year’s stakeholder event. Another side attraction to the 2012 Stakeholder Engagement is the launch of the 2011 NHIA annual report.

Thank you.