Resign if you don’t trust NHIS anymore – Mahama tells Health Minister
Former President John Mahama has urged Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu to resign after the latter listed some challenges faced by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The former president suggested that Mr Agyemang Manu must step aside due to loopholes that make the scheme inefficient.
Mr Agyemang Manu had stated on April 18 that the NHIS faced issues from healthcare providers.
He made this known at the Ghana Health Service Senior Managers Meeting 2023.
Citing his own experiences, Mr Agyeman Manu said there were instances where he had to pay for his medical services after he visited some health facilities like the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), even though he is an NHIS subscriber.
“I pay when I go to Ridge Hospital. I pay when I go to UGMC. I don’t even present my insurance card…,” he lamented. “The complaints that are coming about how those who are subscribed to health insurance are treated in almost all our facilities…”.
According to Mr Agyemang Manu, treatment given to NHIS card holders at the various facilities is below par, adding that patients who are unable to pay are being denied access to medical services.
But the comments did not go down well with former President Mahama who has asked for the minister to be axed.
“He himself has admitted that he has failed. He has not been able to grow the NHIS, and he says it has failed… he has no business being the minister for health. He should resign,” Mr Mahama stated.
The former president made this known on Tuesday, April 25, at a meeting with branch and constituency executives of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in Sefwi Adobokrom, in the Bia East Constituency.
Mr Mahama added that people holding NHIS cards are being turned away from most health facilities because the government is not paying their claims.
“Health facilities have not been paid since last year for services provided to cardholders. How do you expect them to continue treating them?” he quizzed.
“It is unacceptable for a minister to act as a passive observer on the sideline. The collapse of the scheme occurred during his tenure and under his leadership. Accepting that the system is not working should be accompanied by a resignation,” he insisted.
The NHIS package provides coverage for approximately 95 per cent of the most common causes of illness in the country and includes inpatient and outpatient care, comprehensive maternity care, diagnostic testing, generic medicines and emergency care.