Settle outstanding claims, - Minister directs NHIA (page 28)

Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah
THE Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa Yankey, has directed the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to immediately make arrangements to pay all outstanding claims due healthcare providers under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He said he had already had discussions with the officials of the authority and found out that there were enough funds to settle all debts. He, therefore, asked that the various schemes should furnish the authority with the necessary information on their debts for payments to be made.
At his first meeting with the heads of units within the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Accra, Dr Yankey said there was the need for a review of portions of the law governing the operations of the District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (DMHISs), to prevent some of the operational challenges facing the schemes.
He reiterated the government’s decision to introduce a one-time premium payment for the NHIS, adding that it was possible.
Elaborating on how the government would be able to fund such a scheme, the Health Minister said the government had made the initial work and came to the conclusion that it was possible to get funds for the programme.
He, however, said all the necessary actuarial work would be conducted before implementation.
He explained that for this year for example, there was an estimated revenue of GH¢276 billion to be realised from various sources to finance the scheme, which he said when well managed should be able to cater for all insured persons after one-time payment of premium.
He said that amount when divided could provide GH¢14.74 for each Ghanaian, which was more than the GH¢7.2 minimum premium being paid under the scheme.
The NHIS is funded through the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), which is two and half per cent tax added to the Value Added Tax (VAT) as well as two and half per cent deduction from Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions.
In addition to these sources of funding, Dr Yankey mentioned savings from the Emergency Motor Insurance Premium, which could also be used to support the scheme.
He pointed out that already a percentage of the population referred to as indigents (the very poor) were being cared for without any payment, adding that it was, therefore, possible for the rest of the population to pay once in their life time but continue to enjoy the facility.
According to him, the success of the programme when implemented, would depend on how effective Ghanaians as a people manage it to their own advantage.
He gave the assurance that good programmes which were initiated by the previous administration would be continued and mentioned the Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme as a good preventive programme which needed to be deepened and widened to save the nation some of the cost on curative purposes.
Dr Yankey complained about what he termed as rivalry between some of the agencies under the ministry and gave the assurance to help solve all outstanding disagreements which was creating divisions.
In an answer to a question, he said he would do all within his ability to ensure that reviews of laws of the health sector were dealt with before the end of the year.
He appealed to the senior officials who were present at the meeting to rally behind him to perform, adding that, “I will need your help to succeed since if I fail, it means you have also failed”.
On behalf on the rest of the personnel of the ministry, the acting Chief Director of the Ministry, Madam Salimata Abdul-Salam, assured the minister that they would support him to achieve his target, since their main objective was to provide quality health care to the people of Ghana.