ONETIME PREMIUM ATTAINABLE-OXFAM SAYS.
Ghana can implement the onetime premium for all card holders of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) if the appropriate health financing reforms are made.
That, according to a report commissioned by ISODEC, Alliance for Reproductive Human Rights, Essential Services Platform and Oxfam could be attained if government invested in exploring concrete and progressive solutions that would raise additional financing into the health sector.
According to the report, financing of the one-time premium could be raised from an increased public investment in the health sector from both domestic resources and international aid.
Also, the onetime premium could be achieved if the government overhauled the health insurance bureaucracy and created a national health system that would be free at the point of access to all.
According to the report “Achieving a shared goal: Free universal health care in Ghana”, there was the need for government to transform the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), into a National Health Fund that would pool fragmented streams of financing for the sector.
A consultant, Mr Patrick Apoya who led the preparation of the report noted that, the fund should be placed under the clear jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, along with the core functions of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to remain relevant and expanded to cover infrastructure and other capital and recurrent expenditure.
According to him, free health care for all was achievable and affordable through cost-savings, progressive taxation and good quality aid.
He indicated that discussions and proposals had been made to increase the NHIS VAT levy of 2.5 per cent by 0.5 per cent which was currently being paid by every Ghanaian who made any purchase.
With a projected economic growth and an improved taxation of the country’s own resources, government could mobilise a health expenditure of US$50 per capita by 2015.
This would mean a minimum government investment of 15 per cent of total revenues collected into the health sector.
In addition, he said, an additional US$4 per capita could be added by 2015 if improvements in the quality of aid were achieved.
Those revenue sources combined would mean that by 2015 the country could increase its per capita expenditure for health by 200 per cent from at least US$54 per capita in 2008 to about US$60 per capita as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He said actuarial studies conducted on the one-time premium payment by 2018 was estimated at GH¢ 1.7 billion.
This included the amount to be paid to health care providers for services rendered to NHIS clients and the associated administrative costs.
The report further recommended that a rapid expansion and improvement of all health service delivery in the country needed to be implemented with priority attention to the poorest and most deprived districts and regions across the country.
Also, the report stated that, every Ghanaian paid for the NHIS through VAT, but as many as 82 per cent remained excluded.
That, according to a report commissioned by ISODEC, Alliance for Reproductive Human Rights, Essential Services Platform and Oxfam could be attained if government invested in exploring concrete and progressive solutions that would raise additional financing into the health sector.
According to the report, financing of the one-time premium could be raised from an increased public investment in the health sector from both domestic resources and international aid.
Also, the onetime premium could be achieved if the government overhauled the health insurance bureaucracy and created a national health system that would be free at the point of access to all.
According to the report “Achieving a shared goal: Free universal health care in Ghana”, there was the need for government to transform the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), into a National Health Fund that would pool fragmented streams of financing for the sector.
A consultant, Mr Patrick Apoya who led the preparation of the report noted that, the fund should be placed under the clear jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, along with the core functions of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to remain relevant and expanded to cover infrastructure and other capital and recurrent expenditure.
According to him, free health care for all was achievable and affordable through cost-savings, progressive taxation and good quality aid.
He indicated that discussions and proposals had been made to increase the NHIS VAT levy of 2.5 per cent by 0.5 per cent which was currently being paid by every Ghanaian who made any purchase.
With a projected economic growth and an improved taxation of the country’s own resources, government could mobilise a health expenditure of US$50 per capita by 2015.
This would mean a minimum government investment of 15 per cent of total revenues collected into the health sector.
In addition, he said, an additional US$4 per capita could be added by 2015 if improvements in the quality of aid were achieved.
Those revenue sources combined would mean that by 2015 the country could increase its per capita expenditure for health by 200 per cent from at least US$54 per capita in 2008 to about US$60 per capita as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He said actuarial studies conducted on the one-time premium payment by 2018 was estimated at GH¢ 1.7 billion.
This included the amount to be paid to health care providers for services rendered to NHIS clients and the associated administrative costs.
The report further recommended that a rapid expansion and improvement of all health service delivery in the country needed to be implemented with priority attention to the poorest and most deprived districts and regions across the country.
Also, the report stated that, every Ghanaian paid for the NHIS through VAT, but as many as 82 per cent remained excluded.
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