Health Insurance Scheme not a monster-Boateng

Agona Swedru, Oct 10, GNA - Mr Asamoah Boateng, a Deputy Minister of Information, has said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was not a monster as some politicians had described it.

The Deputy Minister said he scheme would rather help to provide good quality and reliable health services to the people.

Mr Asaomah Boateng, was addressing heads of departments, chiefs and people of Agona District as part of his four-day tour to the Central Region.

He said it was sad that some people, who claimed that the HIPC fund was meant for the maintenance and provision of health infrastructure requested government to use part of the HIPC fund to start the scheme. Mr Boateng appealed to workers to embrace the NHIS and assured them that the deduction of two-and-half percent of their SSNIT contributions would not affect their retirement benefits.

He said the government would account for its administration at the end the four years' mandate and urged workers to support the authorities to ensure the successful implementation of its policies and programmes. Nana Kojo Amakye, Ankobeahene of Swedru, appealed to the government to assist farmers undertaking projects, under the President's Special Initiative on cassava, adding that those in the area have not received any financial assistance.

Mr Asamoah Boateng also called on the Swedruhene, Nana Kobina Botwe II.