The Communication Director for National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says a proposal to increase the NHIS levy from 2.5% to 3.5% is for the good of the scheme and healthcare in general.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is proposing an increase of the NHIS levy collected under the Value Added Tax (VAT).

According to the Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Dr. Samuel Annor argues that, the current contribution is woefully inadequate to fund the scheme.

However, some stakeholders have kicked against the increment and have rather urged government to find a sustainable and holistic funding source for the NHIA or remit the entire 2.5 per cent NHIL to the authority.

Speaking to this in an interview with sit-in host of Peace FM morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Nana Yaw Kesse, Monday, the Communications Manager of NHIA, Barima Sarpong said the number of subscribers benefiting from the scheme keeps increasing and as a result the scheme needs more money to keep it running.

“We have close to 11 million clients on the NHIS…the cost has gone up and there is the need for change. It is a one percent increment. We are not intentionally over burdening our subscribers; it is for their own good. Apart from that we continue to improve our services with some initiatives including the NHIS Mobile renewal services…” he indicated.