Health Insurance Scheme is not to score political points - Nayan

Nkwanta, April 07, GNA - Mr John Nayan, Deputy Volta Regional Minister on Thursday said establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was not to score political points since ill-health did not discriminate among political parties.

He said the scheme was a bold initiative by the Government to make health care delivery affordable, humane and equity for the poor. Mr Nayan, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta-North Constituency, made the observation at the official launch of the Nkwanta District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme at Nkwanta.

He appealed to Ghanaians to ignore the vile propaganda being perpetrated by opponents of the Scheme and endeavour to register and benefit from its objectives.

Mr Nayan said Government would provide all the necessary logistics and support for the scheme to succeed.

He noted that only 18 per cent of Ghanaians were able to access health care under the Cash and Carry system, which was a barrier to access better health care delivery and the scheme was to offset the negative effect of the previous system especially on the poor. Mr Nayan called on the Board members and Scheme Managers to eschew divisive tendencies for the scheme to succeed for the benefit of the people.

Mr Joseph Denteh, Nkwanta District Chief Executive said 2,814 members out of 50,419 people who registered with the scheme had paid their premiums totalling 181.2 billion cedis.

He said contracts had been signed with 17 health care service delivery providers made up of the Nkwanta District Hospital and its 12 outlets, St Joseph Hospital and three private health facilities. Mr Denteh said 25.6 million cedis had been paid out for 235 clients who benefited from the scheme since February, this year.

He announced that the second registration exercise had begun and appealed to the people to participate because "it is the greatest poverty reduction strategy to be initiated in the country." Nana Awuku Kyea, Chief of Achude and Chairman of the 10-member Board of Directors of the Scheme, pledged their support for its success.