The Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore, Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie delivered a strong critique of the government’s health financing policies during a parliamentary debate on the motion about President Mahama’s State of the Nation address.
Citing inconsistencies in the administration’s commitments to healthcare funding, he emphasized the need for clarity and strategic planning in the sector.
He stressed that healthcare financing is a critical pillar of any functional health system and questioned the government’s approach to the issue.
“Mr. Speaker, as this is the first address by the President, I would want to touch base with the manifesto of the NDC, which would actually influence the direction of the budget. If you go to page 108, it touches on sustainable funding for health services. There are six pillars of health systems that govern and run health services all over the world, and financing is a very critical one.”
Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore
According to Hon. Afriyie, the manifesto proposes the establishment of the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund to support chronic disease treatments such as kidney diseases, cancer, and heart conditions.
“Mr. Speaker, conspicuously missing from the President’s State of the Nation Address was number two of his manifesto promise, which is to uncap the NHIA. I have a strong feeling that something is changing, and nobody spoke about it. Healthcare finance is a very topical issue, and for him not to have mentioned this raises concerns about inconsistency.”
Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore
Hon. Afriyie questioned the necessity of establishing a separate trust fund for chronic diseases when provisions for such treatments already exist in the health budget.
“Mr. Speaker, the expenditure in advance of appropriation that was done in this house took care of a budget of 57 million cedis that would cater for all dialysis patients in this country. If you are going to establish a trust to finance dialysis, which has already been provided for, then I say this is an error, and this resetting is dangerous and cannot be tolerated.”
“Mr. Speaker, heart diseases are already indicated in the NHIA benefit package. Breast cancer and cervical cancer treatments are also covered. In those days when they were in government, there was none. So, I don’t know what this Medical Trust Fund will do because it is already in the package.”
Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore
Concerns Over Agenda 111 Implementation
Turning his attention to the Agenda 111 hospital projects, Hon. Afriyie disputed the claim that three facilities were operational, insisting that none had been fully equipped with staff.
“Mr. Speaker, between Suame and Bole, there was only a micro or mini clinic in Bole. But through Agenda 111, there are ongoing projects in Suame, Ejisu, Techiman, Wenchi, and other areas. This demonstrates commitment to expanding healthcare infrastructure.”
Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore
To ensure the completion of these projects, he urged the government to allocate funds from the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) and to explore concessional loans.
Opposition to the “Onyado Healthcare” Model
Hon. Afriyie also criticized the NDC’s Onyado Healthcare model, which involves mobile medical vans delivering healthcare services to remote areas.
“Mr. Speaker, the Onyado vans, as proposed in the NDC manifesto, are meant to provide specialist care in deprived areas. However, this is contradictory to a permanent measure of providing healthcare infrastructure.”
Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore
He warned that relying on mobile vans instead of investing in permanent facilities would not be a sustainable solution.
Lastly, Hon. Afriyie addressed the NDC’s pledge for free primary healthcare, arguing that it lacks a clear financial structure.
“Mr. Speaker, NHIA is already financing and covering essential treatments for free. So, if the NDC says they will introduce ‘free primary healthcare,’ what does that mean? Are they providing free meals at OPD? Free transport to hospitals? This is tautology.”
Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore
He suggested that the government should focus on ensuring NHIA has enough funding to eliminate out-of-pocket payments.
Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie’s speech in Parliament was a firm critique of the government’s health policies, particularly in relation to healthcare financing, the Agenda 111 hospital projects, and the Onyado Healthcare model.
He emphasized that duplicative funding mechanisms, inconsistent policy directions, and temporary healthcare measures would not solve Ghana’s health challenges.
His argument underscored the need for proper funding allocation, strategic investment in healthcare infrastructure, and the strengthening of NHIA as the primary vehicle for ensuring universal health coverage.
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