Contrary to claims that the Mills-Mahama led government cannot and would not fulfill its promise to run a one-time premium payment for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), a statement signed by Deputy Minister for Information Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa over the weekend explained that President J. E. A. Mills remains committed to his manifesto promise.

He said the President has ensured that the appropriate studies and legal regimes are put in place to ensure a smooth implementation of the one-time premium payment when it commences.

Government, the statement noted, wishes to assure the people of Ghana that the introduction of the one-time payment will be in line with the provision of increased and improved health infrastructure across the country to ensure easy access.

“We have over the two years expanded our health facilities and will continue to add more relevant equipment. There is a lot more to be done, and we will work hard to bring health care delivery closer to the people,” the statement noted. Okudzeto Ablakwa explained that the statement was necessitated by conflicting reports on whether or not government would fulfill its pledge to implement the payment of a one time-premium for subscribers of NHIS. Indeed several government spokespersons have offered conflicting explanations on the current state of the promised one time premium payment creating a situation of uncertainty among Ghanaians.

Ex-Minister for Health, Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, has himself confessed that though he is under pressure from government to tell Ghanaians the one-time premium payment would work, he is only a dummy being manipulated to dance to the tune being played by government as far as the one-time NHIS premium would work. Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Information last year, Dr. Kumbuor confessed: “MY DUTY AS A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS TO SHOW HOW IT WOULD WORK AND I CAN ASSURE YOU WITH BOTH HANDS AND LEGS THAT THE ONE-TIME PREMIUM WOULD WORK (LAUGHS CYNICALLY). I AM TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE IT IS A DRUM THAT IS BEING BEATEN AND YOU HAVE TO DANCE TO THE TUNE; IF THEY STOP DRUMMING AND I AM STILL DANCING, SOMEONE SHOULD PLEASE TAP ME AND SAY THEY HAVE STOPPED DRUMMING.” Reports during Dr. Kumbuor tenure as Health Minister, had it that at a cabinet meeting, held on Monday November 14 2010, did not support a proposal that the NHIS levy be raised from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent to increase the revenue base to sustain the NHIS as the number of subscribers has increased from 1.3 million to almost 18 million and the scheme cannot be sustained without additional funding. DAYBREAK reproduces the entire package the 2011 budget has on health: Health Madam Speaker, in pursuit of the NDC government’s commitment to equitable health care for all the following key projects were completed in the health sector in the fiscal year 2010:-

45 CHPS zones were created;

600,000 Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits for the confirmation of malaria cases were supplied;

The 100-bed hospital with Malaria Research Centre at Teshie, Accra was completed; 5 Polyclinics in the Northern Region (one each at Kpandai, Tatale, Kanga, Chereponi and Karaga); and 21 health centers were completed;

Phase two of the rehabilitation and upgrading of Bolgatanga Regional Hospital was completed;

Essential nutrition actions, aimed at preventing neonatal deaths and enhancing health services for children, were implemented in all the 10 regions of the country.

140 trainers of trainers were exposed to the use of the new World Health Organization Growth Chart.

5 new midwifery training colleges were established to run courses in Post Basic Certificate in Midwifery However, what baffles the minds of many is how the manifesto pledge would be fulfilled since it was not budgeted for in this year’s budget.