Prof. Akosa: �One Off-Time Premium Is Doomed To Fail�

The former Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Badu Akosa has expressed his disappointment over government�s decision to still implement a one off-time premium for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Professor Akosa maintains the one off-time premium, can jeopardize the scheme which the previous government worked hard to establish. �We should take politics and manifesto promises out of this. The scheme exists for the development of this country and any attempt to bring in politics would be a disaster,� he cautioned. According to him, with the one off-time premium, �the government will have to pump a lot of money in operating the scheme and if it encounters any financial difficulties, the scheme will collapse,� adding that no country has been able to adopt the one off time premium. �If we want improved health care delivery, then the one off-time premium is needless. We need to re-think the idea, but for me, I think the amount paid as premium should be across board and maintained,� he stressed. However, the Public Relations Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr. Akwasi Acquah, insists government can successfully operate the one time policy without any hiccups. �It is the wish of Gov�t that everyone enjoys access to quality health care, but it (gov�t) also recognizes that the paying of premium is a difficulty for most people, hence the decision to opt for a one off-time premium,� he explained. The two were speaking on Peace FMs �Kokrokoo� morning Show regarding a Ghanaian Times newspaper publication today, August 31st, that �One Time NHIS On Course�. The paper quoted the Deputy Minister of Health; Dr. Ben Kumbuor, as having said that �the government will succeed in delivering quality health care to citizens for the country through the one time premium policy.� This was after a meeting held in Sogakpe at the weekend.