Ghana enacting national health insurance
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Ghana
05 February 2003
Health Insurance scheme to be fully operational
The National Health Insurance Bill would soon be placed before Parliament and become fully operational by the end of the year, Vice President Aliu Mahama, said on Tuesday.
The Vice President, who said this when he launched the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the service delivery arm of the Health Ministry, urged Ghanaians to support the scheme when it is implemented.
He said: "It is better to have an arrangement that enables you to prepare and plan for inevitable but unpredictable day of ill-health by paying for a health insurance policy, rather than the "Cash and Carry" system, which makes you pay when you are ill and at your most vulnerable.
"I am convinced that in the long run, health insurance is a more humane way of paying for health services and I urge you all to support the system when it comes into being later in the year."
The insurance scheme is being tested in 42 districts by mutual health organisations, owned by the communities. Vice President Mahama stressed the government's commitment to ensure that Ghanaians stay healthy and work for the growth of the economy...
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=32446
Comment: As the United States moves further toward a consumer-directed health care system "which makes you pay when you are ill and at your most vulnerable," Ghana is creating National Health Insurance which "enables you to prepare and plan for inevitable but unpredictable day of ill-health."
American Heritage Dictionary: "civilized" - adjective: ... 2. Showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement; humane, ethical, and reasonable...
Hmmm...