NHIA CEO Pushes For Increase In NHIS Levy

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority is asking for an increment in the national insurance levy to save the biggest health scheme from total collapse.

Speaking to Sanda on the Eyewitness News, Dr Samuel Annor is convinced an increase in the levy from the current 2.5% to 3.5% will go a long way to help properly finance the scheme.

“When you want to go to the market to buy a commodity, you have to take the right price in your pocket. The right price according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines is that to purchase primary health care, you need about $86 for each person for the whole year.”- he said.

According to Dr Samuel Annor, there is need for Ghana and government to take a serious look at the financing module of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to prevent it from collapse.

“At the moment with ¢110, it only translates to about $25 for each person for the whole year. Obviously, you cannot purchase health with that low level of money. Our membership has grown, the demand has risen, the cost of healthcare has risen that is why we are in this state.” – he said.

Reacting to a comment by Casely-Hayford suggesting that, due to the struggling of the National Health Insurance Authority, government should consider taxing churches.

Dr Samuel believes that is the way forward to help the NHIA development and that it comes with principles,to the level health purchasing is a commodity and it has a price.

Explaining further, he made aware of that the National Health Authority is on a rightful course and just a matter of time, things will commence on a good note.