Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has commended President John Mahama for the decision to allocate a portion of the oil revenue to the Scheme, describing it as “forward looking” and a step in the right direction.
Addressing a press conference in Accra last Friday, on the status of the NHIS, Mr Otoo said the President’s statement is a welcome call and one that will provide respite for the Scheme.
“His Excellency the President’s recent announcement to commit a portion of the oil revenue to the NHIS is gratifying as it provides a significant prospect to address the issues of sustainability,” the NHIS boss averred.
The NHIS is mainly funded by taxes and deductions from social security contributions. Premium payment, according to the NHIA, accounts for less than 4% of the Scheme’s revenue base.
In the last few years, the subject of the sustainability of the Scheme has become topical. Administrators of the Scheme have maintained that given the steady growth of the scheme and the global trend of healthcare financing, a review of the NHIS’ funding sources was important to support the expansion of the Scheme.
President Mahama at a recent event in Accra mentioned that he will push for the allocation of petroleum revenue for the funding of the NHIS. According to him, there is the need to rework the sustainability of the Scheme, hence the need to “look for new sources of funding for the National Health Insurance.”
Thus he said, “my proposal is that a percentage of the annual budget funding amount that comes from petroleum revenues should be allocated to the National Health Insurance Scheme.”
This commitment by the President is what the NHIA top man described as progressive.
“This is forward looking and an indication that the known challenge of delays in claims payment occasioned by the inadequacy of funds from the traditional funding sources, could be dealt with,” an optimistic Mr Otoo stated.
The NHIS currently has a membership of 11.3 million members with an average of 40,000 people either joining or renewing their membership daily. This huge number and the accompanying cost of their healthcare, it has been argued, put a lot of strain on the kitty of the Scheme, especially as about 70% of these people by law do not pay premiums - indigents, persons below 18 years, aged, pregnant women etc. Health sector players have lauded the President’s promise and say it will allow the NHIS some more financial muscle to support its operations.
Mr Otoo mentioned that the NHIA in recent years has employed technology in addressing many of the challenges it has faced. He named the introduction of paperless NHIS registration which saves the Scheme about 6 million cedis annually, introduction of Provider Unique Identification, electronic identification of the poor and vulnerable persons for enrolment onto NHIS, the expansion of Clinical Audit capacity amongst many others.
A new product, the multi-year registration for NHIS members, which allows NHIS members the option to renew their membership for 2, 3 or 4 years was launched on the same day.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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We should watch this carefully. Another way of stealing our money. What happens to the contributions or premiums paid. This clearly shows that the NHIS management under this government is unable to manage things properly. What would have happened without the petroleum fund. I though NDC said they were going to introduce one time payment. NDC is just a bunch of mismanagement group.
Healthcare is a lot of budget strain on all governments around the world because without health there is no nation. I commend JM for the proposed funding but stringent measures should be put in place against ***barred word*** before any money is disbursed to that authority. And if possible a non partisan committee should be instituted to oversee the disbursement of funds from the authority
I think it is a good decision looking at the premium been paid for a whole year is too small for the sustainability of the scheme, therefore any suggestion to find an alternative source of funding must be commended and supported so that we can sustain the scheme and even make better.Thanks for reading my comment.
You are happy that Mahama has extended the STEA#$%LING and GRAFT to the petroleum fund so you can get HUGE sum to siphon away. CHANGE IS COMING!
Its a laudable idea but these people needs to be monitored carefully before they exploit this area too.
Since when did the President and his gov't realized that oil money can be put in NHIS? You have been in government for eight good years and never taught of this.this tell how visionless the government is. You saw the need to use oil money to brand buses, (such a missing priority )forgetting that such money could have been channeled to the NHIS. This is just a political talk and dont forget that you are in government and not in opposition. i would have forgiving you if you had made this promise in opposition. You can deceive some people and not all of us.
Let institutions work oooo!!. Our population is growing too fast . The NHIS currently has a membership of 11.3 million members with an average of 40,000 people either joining or renewing their membership daily. This huge number and the accompanying cost of their healthcare, it has been argued, put a lot of strain on the kitty of the Scheme, especially as about 70% of these people by law do not pay premiums - indigents, persons below 18 years, aged, pregnant women etc
Transformation and Transilation with Technologies is the best and CEO we salyte that you are listening to the concerns of stakeholders and designing innovative products to take challenges to the least and problems are disappearing. As the population grows we have design systems and models to rake activity to different light. Congratulations.