The National Health Insurance Authority has clarified news reports attributed to the Dormaahene, Oseadeyo Agyeman Badu II, concerning the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Although the Authority agreed with the traditional ruler that the NHIS does not receive the full complement of funding from the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), it noted that the scheme is not collapsing as the news report sought to suggest.
“The highly revered chief demonstrated concern and dedication to the long-term viability of the scheme, for which management of the NHIA is very grateful and appreciative. His strong plea for the government to leave the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) alone and provide it to the NHIA to bolster its functions, particularly the processing of claims for health care providers, is warranted.”
“While management Osagyefo’s call for the government to give the scheme the full amount of the NHIL collected, we would like to address the erroneous impression that the report created, suggesting that the scheme is on the verge of collapsing because the NHIS is not receiving the full amount of the NHI Levy, therefore depriving healthcare providers of their rightful claims.” The authority said this in a statement on November 23, 2023.
NHIA stated further that no government under the fourth republic has paid the full amount accruing to the NHIL to the NHIS, although the law directs so.
The Authority, however, admitted that this can be improved upon.
Below is the statement from the National Health Insurance Authority.