Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the Minister of Health, has rejected calls for his resignation, following his recent comments about the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Health Minister, during a meeting with the Ashanti Regional Health Managers, specified that the Scheme was inactive and needed to be revitalized.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, after hearing about this, called out the Minister to quit, if he is unable to oversee the health sector.
However, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, speaking at a forum, claimed that his remark has been misconstrued by the former President.
“An elderly respectable-statesman like former President John Dramani Mahama, goes on this lane into the gutter, in the gallery, doing propaganda that the health minister should resign. Does this call for any resignation? I came to work for the nation, and I have done what any health minister would have done. If you don’t appreciate my work, don’t destroy me unnecessarily.”
Kwaku Agyemang Manu
John Dramani Mahama spoke to the wild applause of the people, at a meeting with branch and constituency executives of his party; the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in Sefwi Adobokrom, in the Bia East Constituency.
Responding to the Minister’s admission of failure, the former president said Mr. Agyemang Manu must resign because what he said is unfitting of a Health Minister.
John Dramani Mahama Calls For Agyemang Manu’s Resignation Over NHIS’ Collapse
Former President John Dramani Mahama called for the resignation of the Minister for Health, after he openly admitted that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has failed.
The Minister of Health has said the Scheme is no longer working, admitting that he no longer uses the service and prefers to pay for his medical treatment.
According to him, treatment given NHIS card holders at the various facilities is below par. He complained bitterly that patients who are unable to pay, are being denied access to medical services. Responding to the Minister’s admission of failure, the former president asked Mr. Agyemang Manu to quit his job, in order for someone who can do the job, pick up the position.
“He 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!”
John Dramani Mahama
The former President providing more details, claimed the holders of the NHIS card are being turned away from most health facilities because the 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 them?”, John Dramani Mahama queried.
Many have questioned the Minister’s public complaints, instead of taking responsibility to make the Scheme functional.
A social media commentator, sharing her thoughts on the minister’s statement said, “he appears to be talking like an outsider, who is merely observing the situation without any ability to effect change within the system.”
“If the NHIS is not functioning as it was before, who should take responsibility”, John Mahama continued, restating his position that Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Manu must resign.
“It is unacceptable for a Minister to act as a passive observer on the sideline. The collapse of the Scheme occurred during his tenure and under his leadership. Accepting that the system is not working, should be accompanied by a resignation.”
John Dramani Mahama
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