President John Mahama has initiated a redesign of the country’s National Health Insurance Scheme to make it more accessible to the people of Ghana. To this end he has constituted a technical committee to make proposals that will change the face of Health Insurance as it is known in Ghana.
The President, who was addressing Ghanaians during the State of the Nation Address, revealed that “2015 saw an active NHIS membership of 11.2 million people i.e. 41% of the population of Ghana”, adding that outpatient utilisation of the scheme rose 29.6 million in 2014 from 597,000 in 2005.
He explains that the figures reveal the confidence Ghanaians have in the scheme and the health system.
He therefore wants the technical team to come up with a proposal which will amongst other things deal with the adequacy of funding for the Health Insurance scheme.
President Mahama also emphasized the need for Ghanaians to take preventive health very seriously especially in the face of changing nutritional habits.
The President also stated his intention to support the local pharmaceutical industry to produce as many drugs as possible here in Ghana.
“To this end, we’ve disbursed more than 50 million cedis to assist pharmaceutical companies and also removed VAT on all their raw materials”, he revealed and hoped that this measure will also help people living with HIV/AIDS get easy access to anti-retroviral drugs.
I think, our President has done well by initiating such a laudable policy- Health Insurance scheme for mother Ghana and Ghanaians to benefit, going further, to redefine it it’s a plus to him.
In fact, access to health is the most priority a visionary leader will take. Therefore, the president has scored it and got it right by redefining it, to make it without bureaucratic headache and simple for Ghanaians.
Your excellency, I salute you for such your feel your people. May God guides you more. Thanks 1000 times!
GHANAIANS SHOULD COMMEND JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA
John Mahama, needs our commendations and claps, as he’s done a good number of things worthy of mentioning.
He has Ghana at heart, with his pro poor initiatives and interventions, such as MASLOC loans to starters, YEA ( youth employment agency), YA(youth in agriculture).
All these are good public policy for mitigating sufferings of citizens.
He has also, pay much attention, to building schools to kick out what used to call – schools under trees. This is a smart intervention. The schools under trees were a bane to learning to our kids , particularly ,when it rains. So building new schools across the country comes at the right time and a good vision by the President.
I think, Ghanaians must appreciate these good works done by the President.
It’s reported that, he’s second to Kwame Nkrumah in terms of education investment in Ghana. This is a great feat he’s chalk.