The Minority in Parliament has rejected claims that the previous government left debts under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), insisting that the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo left a positive balance to sustain the scheme.
The caucus said the former administration left GH¢1 billion to cater for claims owed to healthcare service providers across the country.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, March 10, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie said the current management of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) did not inherit any outstanding debt from the previous administration.
He explained that debts accumulated between 2021 and 2023 had already been settled before the change in government.
“As of 2023, there was a debt of GH¢2.4 billion covering 2021, 2022 and 2023. That amount was paid in three tranches of GH¢800 million each by the then Controller and Accountant-General,” he said.
Dr. Afriyie noted that the payments were publicly known and not carried out secretly, urging stakeholders to refrain from politicising matters concerning the national 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 added.
He further argued that the existence of the GH¢1 billion balance contradicts claims that the NHIA was left with debts.
Dr. Afriyie maintained that the previous government left the NHIA in a financially stable position.
