Presidential Candidate agree on need to strengthen NHIS and fight corruption


The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, (GBC)/National Commission on Civic Education, (NCCE) Presidential Debate produced some interesting answers to the plans in place to improve the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and also fight corruption in Ghana. 

The Independent, Jacob Osei Yeboah, also known as (JOY) was the first on the list of candidates, called for a proper National Electronic Data infrastructure system to serve as database for the NHIS. 

He said, “the NHIS I believe is working but it is human institution...There is corruption and there is the need to minimize the human element.” 

He advocates its expansion to take care of more sicknesses. 

He suggests that, solving the problems of the Scheme must go beyond just providing healthcare but also tackling causes of the disease. 

“If you want to solve malaria, you deal with stagnant waters. I will combine sports and health.” he said. 

On corruption, he blamed the cost of practicing democracy as the major problem. 

“We are practicing an expensive democracy. Corruption starts with the political parties. Political parties who fail to respect the political party laws, is the beginning of corruption.” he said.

He said his government would introduce auditors in all ministries who will sign for every cash expended, adding that the problem of job for the boys is also deepening the problem of corruption. 

The presidential Candidate of the Progressive People's Party, (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom also sees the use of the identification system as necessary to improve the the NHIS. 

He also advocates prevention as the best means of solving the problems of the Scheme. 

“The PPP is more concerned about prevention (of diseases) such as malaria, cholera, meningitis. 

There will be proper environmental cleanliness and adequate provisions made to learn prevention. 

Those measures, to him, would reduce the overload on the scheme. 

“At least 2 billion cedis annually is lost to corruption,” he stressed, adding that he would introduce an independent prosecutor to prosecute cases of corruption. “Corruption is a huge problem. Deal with corruption in a personal way. Presidents must declare assets publicly. In America, April 15, the president files his income tax. If the first person, the president doesn't pay tax what moral authority does he have to demand others to pay?” he asked. 

President John Mahama said when NHIS was passed in 2005; actual study predicted that in ten years the program has to be reviewed. 

He disclosed that, under his administration the review had started. “A new funding source needs to be looked at which we are working on. Claims implementation also has to be looked at. With 29million visitations per annum this scheme is not a collapsed one but to strengthen it more a percentage of petroleum revenue will be used to fund the NHIS,” he posited. 

He stated that there are measures already in place to fight corruption in the country. “There is the National anti-corruption action plan to fight corruption. Sadly, as a country we are more interested in anecdotal corruption rather than the efforts being made to fight corruption.” 
He outlined some of the measures. “We are working to reduce cash in public payment. In 2021 government will not accept cash. There is the need to educate people on what gift giving is and how it can corrupt public officials. There must be political will to prosecute those found to be corrupt” 

Lawyer, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet of the Convention People’s Party, (CPP) wants the scheme depoliticized and run by experts and health professionals. “There has to be multi-sectorial, sports, health, sanitation ministries all sitting to find more comprehensive ways of solving the problem. We are also keen on strengthening traditional medicine and give them training,” he advocated. 

On corruption, Lawyer Greenstreet said, the National Anti-corruption action plan is a consensus plan agreed by all to fight corruption. “We need to remove this blot and stain in all facets of society. It must be rooted. It can only be done by a government elected into power solve it.” 

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples National Convention, (PNC), Dr. Edward Mahama, a Gynaecologist, lays the blame of the problems of the NHIS on cash flow. “The 2.5% should not sit in the consolidated fund but must go straight to the Authority. President Mahama must use the petroleum revenue to help fund the NHIS”. He admitted that, corruption is everywhere, not just with the politicians. “Abhorrence of corruption at the highest level is very important in fighting corruption. Corruption is endemic and its everywhere and we must fight it,” he urged.

Monitored by Ruth Abla Adjorlolo.




GBC