Ghana Health News-The Health Insurance Service Providers Association of Ghana (HISPAG) wants the national health insurance premium increased from 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent.
Speaking at a conference in Accra, Executive Director of the Association Frank Richard Torblu noted that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) could collapse if drastic interventions are not put in place.
“We are of the view that the health insurance should increase the premium. The government should give to them at least 1% of the premium levy.”
He also added that the 1 per cent increment will provide more funds for the scheme to operate effectively.
Insurance card holders are reportedly being charged for treatment at some hospitals.
According to Mr. Torblu, some interventions ought to be made by government in order to sustain the Scheme.
He charged government to desist from politicizing issues of health and focus on finding long-term solutions to issues confronting the health sector.
“Let us be frank and realistic, there are a lot of technocrats and well-meaning people in this country who are ready to put their head on the table to ensure the sustainability of health insurance. Just that we want a situation where this very well-meaning Ghanaians will not be politically bastardized.”
Speaking in an interview on TV3‘s Midday Live on the same issue, Executive Director of the coalition of NGOs in health, Dr. Gabriel Benaklu, stated on Tuesday that the coalition is in support of any government intervention that will ensure that universal access to health is achieved.
He noted that discussions on improving the health sector ought to be done in collaboration with all major stakeholders within the health sector.
According to him, delay in payment of claims is due to mismanagement on the part of authorities in charge of the Scheme.
“We have mismanaged the [national] health insurance scheme over the years and there is evidence all over across the country on how we have mismanaged [it].”
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) currently has an annual funding deficit of about GH¢450 million.
Government owes service providers GH¢750 million, a debt that keeps accumulating.
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