Accra: The Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has asserted that 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).
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on Parliament's Health Committee, stated that the NHIA had a positive balance of GHS1 billion when the current government assumed office. This amount was reportedly used to settle claims for four consecutive months, specifically November, December, January, and February. Dr Afriyie made these remarks during a media briefing held at Parliament House in Accra.
He further clarified that the current NHIA management did not inherit any debt from the previous administration. Outstanding claims that had accumulated between 2021 and 2023 were already cleared before the change in government. Dr Afriyie detailed that as of 2023, the NHIA had a debt of GHS2.4 billion, covering the years 2021, 2022, and 2023. However, this amount was fully settled in three tranches of GHS800 million each by the Controller and Accountant-General's Department.
Dr Afriyie also called on stakeholders to refrain from 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 stated.