Extend NHIS to mental health and ambulance service- CSOs

A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has on government to clearly spell out the financing arrangements in the 2022 National Budget to complete exiting health projects which have been abaddoned as part of its flagship ‘Agenda 111’, whist extending NHIS to ambulance services, mental health and kidney treatment.

Finance minister, Ken Ofori Atta will present the 2022 National Budget on the floor of Parliament to spell measures to fix the national economy post Covid-19.

But, even before the Finance Minister presents the budget, a group of Civil Society Organisations has singled out the four thematic areas which needs urgent attention.

According to CSOs, the area of energy and mining, education, Health and fiscal policy must be tackled head-on and proposed a lot of recommendations to resolve specific challenges in these areas.

Addressing the challenge on health a Fiscal Policy Specialis of OXFAM
Dr. Alex Ampaabeng said “there is a problem of financing and the coverage of the NHIS and recommended the separation of the national health insurance levy from the consolidated fund.

He noted that, there should be a review of the current NHIS package to benefit family planning, ambulance services, mental health and dialysis treatment for poor people suffering from Kidney failure.

Touching on fiscal policy failure of the government, the CSO’s recommendes that the government must the tax exemptions bill which in turn drive investment into priority areas and stimulate the economy without causing any financial losses to the state and collapsing the economy as a result of a growing public debt. He made all these remarks today during a CSO’s budget forum in Accra.

Source: africaneditors.com