�NHIS Will Collapse By 2020 Unless�

Dr. Raymond Atuguba, a legal practitioner has suggested a policy framework that will enable the National Health Insurance Scheme to operate for 25years. He warned that if such measures were not taken, the scheme would collapse by 2020. He said a strong regulator, an effective implementor and a commission, instead of a council, should be put in place for the scheme. Dr. Atuguba made the suggestion at a validation meeting on policy and legislative review of the scheme last Wednesday at Sogakope in the South Tongu District. The two-day meeting was attended by stakeholders of the scheme from the Greater Accra, Central, Western and Volta Regions. Dr, Atuguba said that if such a policy and legislation were not taken into consideration, the scheme would collapse by 2020. Currently, he said �mistakes have been made during the implementation of the scheme which includes confusion as to the extent to which the Municipal and District Mutual Health Insurances Schemes are to be autonomous and originally grown and government control. Dr. Atuguba urged the participants �to note that there is investment in preventive health care, heath education, public health, environmental health, well equipped hospitals and health centres as well as trained health professionals, Information Communication and Technology systems devoid of fraud towards the success of the scheme�. He suggested that there is the need for a national, private and mutual schemes, processing of membership cards must be reduced from 60 days to 30 day, 25 per cent of down payment for claims of face value to eradicate fraud in various stages of processing the scheme, changing of legislative ideology from complex to simple, responsible institutions to implement the boards principles and detailed rules.