General News of Saturday, 30 March 2019

Source: peacefmonline.com

National Health Insurance fund was never invested in Menzgold - Report

Joe Osei Owusu, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joe Osei Owusu, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament

Funds of the National Health Insurance Scheme was never invested in Menzgold.

However, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) invested in fixed deposits with other financial institutions.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is expecting a total amount of Ghc 2, 534.89 billion in 2019 from the National Health Insurance Levy/SSNIT and other sources to be able to carry out its mandate in the year.

This is contained in the report of the Committee of the Whole of Parliament on the proposed formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for 2019 which was approved by the House today.

The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole of Parliament and First Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon Joseph Osei Owusu moved the motion for the adoption of the Committee's report.

The active membership coverage of the NHIS according to the report was 10.4 million (34.7% of the estimated population of the country) as at the end of 2018.

The NHIA projects an estimated coverage of 12.4 million (41.3% of the estimated population) in 2019 according to the report presented by Hon Joseph Osei Owusu.

Commenting on the report, the Minority Ranking Member on Health and MP for Juaboso, Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh said the health sector is seriously challenged and not functioning well in terms of availability of resources or funds, but government is not truthful to the people on the issue.