Managers of NHIS More Competent Now

A Deputy Minister for Health, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu has suggested that the current managers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have proven to be more competent than those under the erstwhile Mahama regime.

This he said is evident in the substantial reduction in debt levels of the scheme under the current leadership, from some GH¢1.2 billion to below GH¢200 million.

“…at the time this government took over, we had a debt of about 1.2 billion…I am happy to tell this August House that per the information available, which is in the committee’s report, the debt has come down to below 200 million, that for me is very significant.

“We have projected that by the end of this year, the total debt would have been cleared and the NHIS would be on a very good pedestal for take-off,” the deputy minister added.

Mr Gyedu said these as Parliament approved the Formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund, for 2018.

He assured parliament that he would work with all the concerns raised by the lawmakers to make the scheme more successful.

Deputy Majority leader, Sarah Adwoa Safo, who presented the report said, the Fund would be used to foster healthcare provision for NHIS subscribers and also to pay for approved administrative expenses in successful running of the scheme.

Meanwhile, minority side of the House has raised issues regarding the management of the scheme which is inundated with several payments rather than its core functions.

Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu decried the use of the scheme’s funds for the payment of Nurses Trainee allowance and the construction of training facilities.

He urged Government to find other innovative ways to fund its activities.

He charged management of the NHIS to garner the support of organised labour in order to get some contributions to support the fund.

By: Christian Kpesese/ thePublisher