Misapplication Of Funds Deadens NHIS; Minority Says
The Minority led by Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, a legislator representing the Juaboso constituency, has claimed that the National Health Insurance Scheme is in medical comatose as a result of the government’s misappropriation of its funds.
The minority at a press conference said the actions of the Akufo-Addo-led government are undermining the crucial objective of the scheme.
“Under President Nana Akufo-Addo, lodging of the NHIL and 2.5% of SSNIT contributions into the National Health Insurance Fund has been left to the dictates of the Finance Minister in contravention of section 52(1) of the National Health Insurance Act 852 which states that “The Minister responsible for Finance shall within thirty days after collection of the levy cause the levy to be paid directly into the fund and furnish the Minister responsible for Health and the Authority with evidence of the payment.”
“Neither has the Minister accounted to parliament bi-annually (every 6months) as expressly required by section 52(2) which also states that “The Minister responsible for Finance shall present to Parliament every six months a report on payment of levies into the Fund.”
According to the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, a study of the National Health Insurance Fund Allocation Formula for 2022 shows that out of the GHc2.056billion collected from Ghanaians as NHIL in 2021, only GHc127.47million or 6% of the total collected was released by the government to address obligations of the year.
Additionally, he referenced that in 2020, out of the GHc2.337billion Ghanaians paid as NHIL and SSNIT contributions for the fund, only GHS790.29m or 31% was released to address claims for the year (2020). 2019 figures were GHS721.09m out of GHS1,262.92 or 57%. 2018 figures were GHS506.80 out of 1,579.49m or 32%.
“We will want to emphasise that since Nana Akufo-Addo took over as President an average of 41.2% of collections due to the NHIS has been released compared to 73.25% under President Mahama”
Akandoh added that as of the end of March 2022, service providers were owed over GHS2.5bn due to non-payment of claims filed as far back as July 2021.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
