The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Samuel Annor, says placing health tax on alcohol, sugar, and tobacco will help sustain the scheme.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority has been pushing for an increase in the National Insurance levy from 2.5% to 3.5% which according to him, will sustain the scheme and prevent it from breaking down.
Speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka FM Tuesday, Dr. Samuel Annor mentioned that the health tax will go a long way to solve "minimal health issues and not only assist NHIS".
He added that the health tax when approved will go directly into the accounts of the National Health Insurance Levy at the Bank of Ghana.
“Sugar is gradually killing people than alcohol. People who do not take in alcohol have developed the habit of indiscriminately abusing sugar leading to health issues such as hypertension and diabetes,” he added.
According to him, a health tax on sugar will help check the intake and at the same time make funds available to the NHIS.
However, Imani boss, Franklin Cudjoe has disagreed with the proposal, stating that having taxes increased on sugar, alcohol, and cigarette will not help sustain the scheme.
Ghana | atinkaonline.com
