Mr Edward Ameyibor, General Secretary of the National Pensioners Association (NPA), has advocated the establishment of a Medical Endowment Fund and an enhanced post-retirement health care system, to promote the health needs of the aged.
He said when the fund is established it would go a long way to supplement the current Pensioners Medical Scheme (PMS), which takes care of the emergency health needs of the members of the Association, as a top-up to the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Mr Ameyibor said this on Tuesday at the opening of the 4th Quadrennial delegates’ conference of the NPA at Shama in the Western Region.
The conference attended by more than 60 delegates drawn from all the regions was on the theme: “Pensioners Medical Scheme, First Step to a Secured Post-Retirement Health Care.”
The General Secretary said with the successful take off of the PMS it has encouraged eight pensioner associations to partner the NPA in forming a federation of pensioners groups to lead an advocacy for a medical Endowment fund.
Mr Ameyibor said since the inception of the PMS the Association has been able to distribute 10,000 cards to it members nationwide with 45 health providers signing on to the scheme.
He said some of the members have started enjoying the benefits with some undergoing prostrate operations and eye services supported by the PMS.
He explained that the Association initially targeted two health providers per region but that four hospitals in each area are working with the NPA.
He said Komfo Anokye and Tamale Teaching Hospitals are working with the Association and negotiations are advanced with the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital as well as some faith based hospitals.
The General Secretary announced that very soon about 3,000 pensioners in the Greater Accra Region, would be issued with EBAN Transport cards by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, to access public transport at 50 per cent discount.
He said the exercise would be extended to all the regions before the end of the year.
He said in Tema Pensioners who are landlords have been offered a 30 per cent discount on property rates by the Metropolitan Assembly.
He said the branch is compiling the list of pensioners’ property owners for submission to the Assembly.
Mr Ameyibor indicated that next year the NPA would be celebrating 25 years of service to pensioners under the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Pension Scheme.
He said under the leadership of the Association in the past six years the monthly pension for the lowest paid pensioners has jumped from GH₵ 52 to GH₵ 276 since it now has a representative on the SSNIT Board.
Mr Eric Cobbina District Chief Executive of Shama, showed appreciation and acknowledged the importance of the aged in the Society since they have loads of experience and expertise they could share with workers.
He said everything is being done to make them comfortable, hence the introduction of social interventions for the aged to enable them live longer.
Nana Kwamina Dekye Guantoahen of Shama Traditional Area who presided over the programme, commended the Association for its contribution towards the welfare of pension in the country.
He suggested that as a nation it is imperative to develop and implement long term policies that would ensure the distribution of food to pensioners and the aged on month bases , adding: “It is worth noting that pension is synonymous with age.”
Nana Dekye who is also the Manager of the Lower Pra Rural Bank Ltd said it is also important for the government to enact a law that would enable pensioners and the aged to board public transport for instance Metro Mass at no cost,
He said last the Shama Business forum spent GH₵ 60, 0000.00 on the aged when it hosted the first ever international day for the aged in the Region.
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