The People’s National Party (PNP) has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama, expressing its deep concern regarding the current state of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which they claimed has regrettably evolved into a co-payment system.
This system, it noted, dangerously resembles the cash-and-carry era it was created to replace.
The PNP said the scheme’s mission, which aimed at abolishing the cruel cash-and-carry system that burdened Ghanaians, is being dismantled.
In the petition, the opposition party stated that the initiative has become a betrayal of its original version.
They are, among other things, demanding that the government, through the Ministry of Health and the NHIA, publicly admits that the NHIS is now functioning as a co-payment system.
“Restore the NHIS to its original intent—a genuinely free and accessible healthcare system for all. Provide all public hospitals and health centers with the logistics and medical resources necessary for uninterrupted service,” it said.
It also wants the “elimination of out-of-pocket payments” for services that are supposed to be covered by NHIS, while calling for a probe into the root causes of these co-payment practices to ensure accountability.
In suggesting a few recommendations, the PNP called for an urgent review of NHIS tariffs to match current market prices for consumables and services.
“Outdated rates hinder quality healthcare delivery and fuel illegal co-payments. This review is not just technical but a moral duty to save lives,” the petition signed by Janet Nabla, Chairperson of the PNP, highlights.
FULL STATEMENT
The People’s National Party (PNP) submits this urgent petition with deep concern regarding the current state of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which has regrettably evolved into a co-payment system— a system that dangerously resembles the cash-and-carry era it was created to replace.
The NHIS was the brainchild of Dr. Edward Nasigrie Mahama, a visionary physician who left his post at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to pursue political leadership. His mission was clear: to abolish the cruel cash-and-carry system that was killing thousands of poor Ghanaians. Although Dr. Mahama did not become President, his proposal for a national health insurance scheme was adopted by successive governments and implemented for the benefit of all Ghanaians. Today, that legacy is being dismantled.
A recent personal experience exemplifies the hardship ordinary Ghanaians face: I sent a cousin to a government hospital, only to be charged GHS 1,636.40 for pharmacy services, lab tests, and basic consumables—despite the patient being an NHIS cardholder. This is not an isolated incident but a widespread reality that reflects a broken system. The NHIS has, in practice, become a co-payment insurance scheme, failing the very citizens it was meant to serve.
THE PNP DEMANDS:
1. That the government, through the Ministry of Health and the NHIA, publicly admits that the NHIS is now functioning as a co-payment system.
2. That immediate action be taken to:
– Restore the NHIS to its original intent—a genuinely free and accessible healthcare system for all.
– Provide all public hospitals and health centers with the logistics and medical resources necessary for uninterrupted service.
– Eliminate out-of-pocket payments for services that are supposed to be covered by NHIS.
– Investigate the root causes of these co-payment practices and ensure accountability.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
The People’s National Party (PNP) calls for urgent attention to the following:
– An urgent review of NHIS tariffs to match current market prices for consumables and services. Outdated rates hinder quality healthcare delivery and fuel illegal co-payments. This review is not just technical but a moral duty to save lives.
– The introduction of dedicated sin taxes on alcohol and cigarettes to generate additional revenue for the NHIS, apart from the 2.5% levy.
– Ensuring that the full 2.5% NHIS levy is paid directly and promptly into the NHIS account, as originally advised by Dr. Edward Nasigrie Mahama. This must not be reduced to mere lip service or partisan rhetoric; it is a crucial financial safeguard for the scheme’s sustainability.
– The government should ensure that NHIS reimburses service providers within one month, instead of the current three months, which are often not operational.
Current delays force hospitals to charge patients illegally just to stay operational.
Timely payments are key to ending co-payments and restoring faith in the system.
The current trajectory of the NHIS endangers lives and violates the social contract between government and citizens. We call on your office to act swiftly and decisively to restore dignity, trust, and equity to Ghana’s healthcare system.
PNP: My Family, My Community. My Motherland
Janet Asana Nabla
Chairperson and Leader
People’s National Party (PNP)
