Ghana’s Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta has disclosed that all arrears owed the National Health Insurance Scheme since the year 2014 have been paid.
“The days of ailing NHIS are behind us; we have re-energised the scheme which is now able to settle its bills thereby ensuring that many more Ghanaians have access to quality health care across the country,” he announced.
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Mr Ofori Atta made the announcement in parliament when he presented the 2019 budget on Thursday, November 15, 2018.
The NHIS policy was introduced in 2003 by ex-president John Kufuor to replace the dreaded cash and carry policy which had been in place for decades.
The policy was to ensure universal health insurance coverage to all Ghanaians through the payment of premiums every year.
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Established under the National Health Insurance Act 2003, Act 650, the policy has been implemented for over a decade amidst challenges of indebtedness to service providers.
Prior to taking over government in 2017, the NPP administration inherited a debt of ¢1.2 billion owed service providers by the National Health Insurance Authority.