The Health Minister, Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, has dismissed suggestions that the Mills-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is “running away” from its promise to run a one-time premium payment for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Dr Kumbuor said suggestions that the government will not be able to fulfill its promise to introduce the NHIS one-time policy is rather unfortunate.

“People are looking at the one-time payment as a financial arrangement because that is what they know in particular Western industrialized countries. Our one–time premium payment philosophy is based on a social obligation of the state to eventually provide free medical care,” Dr Kumbuor told Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show programme.

“So if you are looking at it in terms of financial indicators you are missing the point.”

Dr Kumbuor described the policy as both “feasible” and “workable,” and that “nobody is running away from it.”

He said what even reinforces the conviction of the ruling party that a one-time premium payment can be rolled out is that over 70 per cent of revenue for the scheme comes from the consolidated fund with only 20 per cent coming by way of the premiums and a marginal percentage contributed by donors.

“Even what comes from premiums, I can say on authority that, about 70 to 80 per cent goes into administration; a tiny percentage goes into health delivery.”

Responding to suggestions that the current 2.5 per cent Health Insurance Levy be increased, Dr Kumbuor said that may not be necessary.

He said access to quality healthcare must be seen as a fundamental human right to be enjoyed by the citizenry rather than a commodity that sells at a cost.

“The NDC government is dealing with social insurance. You will know that by WHO standards, health is increasingly becoming a fundamental human right. And when you get it you don’t ask that somebody must pay to realize his fundamental human right,” the Health Minister said.
“If there is a right to health, we must progressively be seen moving towards access to health in which finance is not a barrier.”

On reports that some institutions under the NHIS are abusing the scheme, Dr Kumbuor said he is still gathering reports from authorities would soon prosecute persons found culpable of any offense.

Listen to portions of the Health Minister’s reaction in the attached audio

Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana