The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union is opposing a proposed one percent increment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) levy, saying the move would adversely affect workers.
According to Mr Solomon Kotei, General Secretary of ICU), there is no justification for the proposed increment of the NHIS levy from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent is not justified.
“The concern the ICU has expressed is that we are not in favour of the additional one per cent. ICU knows that before the one percent can be effective, it has to go to Parliament for some acts to be passed but as at now, the NHIA is doing consultation and what we feel about it, is that we are not ready to have any additional one percent.
He told ADR Daily in Accra that although the Union supports the sustainability of the national health insurance system, it would not accept any unjustified increment in the levy.
“We have no hidden agenda to hit the street. Before it goes to Parliament, we’ll go and give our opinion,” explained.
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is currently holding consultations across the country on the proposal to increase the levy by a percentage to be able to sustain the health insurance scheme.
According to NHIA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Annor the current contribution is woefully inadequate to fund the insurance scheme.
Interacting with journalists in Accra recently, the NHIA boss said the government is currently deliberating on the proposal submitted and hoped that by March 2018, a decision would have been made on the proposal.
By ADR Daily Newsdesk
