NHIS Is Our Heritage, Let’s Protect It – Dr. Nsiah Asare Urges Ghanaians
A former Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, has exhorted Ghanaians to protect the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because without it, accessing proper health will be a nightmare for most Ghanaians.
Dr. Nsiah Asare who was speaking on Wontumi TV/Radio in Kumasi on Friday, said the NHIS which was initiated by former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, urged Ghanaians to retain the NPP government so that the key social intervention programme will endure.
“If the NPP government goes away it will definitely lead to the collapse of the NHIS because it cannot be properly managed by the NDC. It happened between 2008 – 2016 when the NDC was in power. They promised one term premium but it ended as NHIS Capitation ”He stated.
According to Dr. Nsiah Asare, the government came to inherit a 1.2 billion Ghana Cedis debt left by the NDC government under John Mahama which has since been liquidated.
“The huge debt left behind by the NDC was a big burden on government but through proactive decisions and love for the Ghanaian people we have been able to clear it to the last pesewa.” He said.
Dr. Nsiah Asare who currently holds the position of a Presidential Advisor on Health added that after retiring the NDC legacy debt in the health sector, the government has lived up to expectation by fulfilling all its obligations to the NHIS.
“Currently, the debt stock of NHIS is no longer huge. The accumulated arrears yet to be paid spans a period not exceeding three months which is a sign of good management.” He noted.
On the Military Hospital’s project at Afari, which is also an initiative of the Kufuor government, the health professional rubbished claims by the NDC that it is their baby which has been abandoned.
“I can say on authority that it is near completion and will be commissioned by the President between October and November this year.” He assured.
Dr. Nsiah Asare also gave an update of the government’s ambitious plan to provide hospitals in all the deprived districts of the country under the Agenda 88 (111) project.
He however, hinted that “by next year all the districts in focus would have their hospitals fully equipped with the right caliber of personnel and equipment .
