Aspiring flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has called for the resignation of the Minister responsible for Health after he openly admitted that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has failed and has not been working as it used to be.
The Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu who was speaking to health professionals and management of the Ghana Health Service in Kumasi indicated that, the NHIS is no longer effective as it used to be since some health providers extort monies from members of the NHIS making it unattractive.
He also admitted that he no longer uses the NHIS and prefers to pay for his medical services.
The minister explained that, from the end-users’ point of view, it looks like the NHIS is not working as a result of extortion but that is not the case.
Responding to these issues raised by the Minister and his admission to the service not working effectively, the former president, John Mahama said Mr. Agyemang Manu must resign.
“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”, he added.
The former President said this during a meeting with branch and constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Sefwi Adobokrom, in the Bia East Constituency.
Mr. Mahama also mentioned that, the NHIS card holders are being turned away from most health facilities because government is not paying their claims.
“Health facilities have not been paid since last year for services provided to card holders.
How do you expect them to continue treating patients”, he asked
Just like the former President, many individuals have questioned the Minister’s public complain instead of taking responsibility to make the Scheme functional.
John Mahama continued that, if the NHIS is not functioning as it was before, who should take responsibility to make it work.
He therefore emphasized his position that the minister must resign.
John Mahama is currently on a nationwide tour to win the heart of NDC delegates ahead of the party’s primaries on May 13, 2023 ahead of the 2024 general elections.
