Government to investigate NHIS operations to stomp
out corruption
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, Aug 24, Ghanadot - Health Minister
Dr George Sipa Yankey says the Government of Ghana has
announced that it would soon probe the operations of the
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), especially the
District Health Insurance Schemes to stump out what he
described as “the hemorrhage the system is suffering.”
Health Minister Dr George Sipa Yankey added that
corruption in the administration of the scheme is
gradually stalling its smooth operation.
“There is so much corruption, so much pilfering, so much
over billing and if all these can stop, we would be able
to have enough resources to fund the National Health
Insurance Scheme,” he stressed.
The Health Minister was reacting to comments by a former
Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr
Badu Akosah, that the one-time premium payment promised
by government is not practicable because the system is
currently under-funded.
Prof Akosah had insisted that the country’s health
system was in bad shape because “the per capita
expenditure on health is very poor.”
The former GHS boss compared Ghana’s less-than-$14 per
capita budget on health to those of the UK and US which
stood at £2000 and $4000 respectively, and said if
government goes ahead to implement the one-time health
insurance policy it would place the health sector under
serious financial strain.
On funding Dr Sipa Yankey insists the scheme has so far
been less dependent on premium payments which contribute
only 10% to the scheme, stressing, the programme would
continue to run with funding from CEPs, VAT and SSNIT.
In the build up to the 2008 elections the then
opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) promised
to scrap the annual payments of health insurance
premiums and replace it with a one-time premium.
Beneficiaries under such a scheme would pay once to
enjoy free healthcare for a lifetime.
Since assuming power some eight months ago, the ruling
NDC has firmed its campaign promise and insisted
Ghanaians would enjoy a health insurance system better
than the one introduced by its predecessor.
Dr Yankey said it is government’s intention that
“ultimately health becomes free to every Ghanaian,” as
is the case in Cuba and other countries.
The Health Minister however says the current
administration will have to tackle corruption in the
scheme for such a promise to become reality.
“If you check with the district schemes, they don’t
account to anybody for it and this is something we are
going to deal with. So monies that have been slipping
from the scheme, we’re now going to bring it on board,”
he said.
Ghanadot
