The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will be launched in Accra today by the President John Agyekum Kufuor.The launch is under the theme “ National Health Insurance; Protecting the poor and putting health in the hands of the people.”
The NHIS is one of the government’s policies to make health delivery efficient and affordable, which attracted a lot of criticisms from some stakeholders especially, organised labour.Under the scheme, a deduction of 2.5 per cent would be made from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) as seed money.
It is, however, believed widely that the NHIS is the best way to make health delivery affordable and accessible for all citizens both the rich and the poor, the employed and the unemployed.The government sources has assured workers that their entitlements under the scheme remain intact and will be paid in full as and when they become due and that the government is the guarantor of the entire SSNIT pension scheme.
The NHIS will, therefore, replace the Cash and Carry system, which has been widely condemned by the stakeholders as a harsh system that demand cash upfront before treatment is given.The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has finally released ?34.8 billion as set-up funds for the 110 districts for their mutual health insurance scheme.
The last batch of the money, which involves ?5.7 billion, has just been released to the last 22 districts. A press release issued in Accra said the 22 districts are, Birim South, West Akim, New Juaben Municipality and Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region, South Tongu, Akatsi and Kadjebi in the Volta Region and the Cape Coast Municipality, Awutu-Efutu-Senya and Agona in the Central Region.
The rest are, Kintampo, Sene, and Wenchi in Brong Ahafo, Zabzugu-Tatale, Yendi, Gushegu-Karaga, Tamale Municipality and Tolon Kumbugu in the Northern Region, as well as the Ejura-Sekyeredumasi, Ahafo Ano North and South and Sekyere East Districts in the Ashanti Region.With this release, all 110 districts now have start-up funds to set up their mutual health insurance schemes.
The National Health Insurance Act provides for the setting up of the Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in all 110 districts of the country for the residents of the district. Under it, every District Assembly will identify promoters to initiate action for the registration of the schemes as a company limited within 60 days of the coming into force of the National Health Insurance Act or within such further period as the council may direct.
