The Minority Caucus of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has defended the financial record of the previous administration regarding the operations of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
According to the caucus, the former government left the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with a positive financial balance and no outstanding debts.
Speaking at a media briefing at Parliament House in Accra on Tuesday, Dr Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, said the NHIA had a balance of about GH¢1 billion when the current administration assumed office.
He explained that the amount was subsequently used to settle claims covering the months of November, December, January and February.
Dr Afriyie also clarified that the current management of the NHIA did not inherit any debt from the previous government, noting that outstanding claims accumulated between 2021 and 2023 had already been cleared before the transition of power.
He said that as of 2023 the NHIA owed about GH¢2.4 billion in claims related to the 2021, 2022 and 2023 periods, but the entire amount was paid through three instalments of GH¢800 million each by the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department.
Dr Afriyie urged stakeholders and the public to refrain from politicising matters concerning the health insurance scheme, stressing that its management should remain transparent and focused on improving healthcare delivery.
“This is not anything done in secret. For that matter, let us put a stop to the over-politicisation of health insurance issues,” he said.
