Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Dr Samuel Annor says the memo by his deputy in charge of marketing authorizing the approval of payments to government communicators is part of the Authority’s new policy.
The memo, which is making rounds on social media, reveals a total of GH¢62,370 was given to about 65 persons said to be members of the Government Communications Team in April “to formally educate [the public] on NHIS policies and comprehensively explain management’s new proposals to enhance the work of the Scheme”.
The venue for the meeting to educate the Team cost over GH¢10,000 while each of the 65 participants received GH¢800 each.
Though he says he is yet to sight the document, Dr Annor told TV3’s Bright Nana Amfoh on New Day on Wednesday that it is part of the open-door policy they are running.
He said money has indeed been allocated to cater for media interviews and publicity of the programmes of the NHIA.
On the recent reports of the collpase of the Scheme, Dr Annor demanded a revision of the financing module of the Scheme, asking for increase in levies.
He, however, flatly denied ever calling for an increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT).
He said it was strange to be in 2018 and still make payments for 2015 claims.
According to him, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was “stable” since its implementation until 2009, when debts began to be incurred.
He attributed this to the increase in the subscriber base against the same financing module.
But he said they want the module to be revised into systems like what pertains in Thailand, where a delegation of NHIA officials recently visited to understudy that country’s scheme.
“We have to send a clear message to every corner of this nation that as a nation, we are not going to joke with our health.”
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana