By Godwill Arthur-Mensah / Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, Mar. 10, GNA – The Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament says the previous administration left the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) with a positive balance and no outstanding debts under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Dr Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, said the NHIA had a positive balance of GH¢1 billion when the current government assumed office, which was used to settle claims for November, December, January and February.
He made the remarks on Tuesday when he addressed the media at Parliament House in Accra.
Dr Afriyie stated that the current NHIA management did not inherit any debt from the previous administration, explaining that outstanding claims accumulated between 2021 and 2023 had already been cleared before the change in government.
He said as of 2023, the NHIA had a debt of GH¢2.4 billion covering the 2021, 2022 and 2023 periods, but the amount was fully settled in three tranches of GH¢800 million each by the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
Dr Afriyie urged stakeholders to avoid politicising issues related to the health insurance scheme.
“This is not anything done in secret. For that matter, let us put a stop to the over-politicisation of health insurance issues,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu