Nana Akuffo-Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate for election 2012 has declared that an NPP government would offer all children free access to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He implied that "parents no longer have to be a subscriber to the NHIS for a child to benefit", saying that "Millions of children will be covered by free healthcare".
Nana Akuffo-Addo made the declaration on Wednesday night when he addressed students of Sunyani Nurses Training College in Sunyani on NPP's health policy, titled: "Saving our health service, keeping our people healthy" as part of his ten day “Hope Restoration Tour" of the Brong-Ahafo Region.
He was accompanied by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a member of the Akuffo-Addo Election 2012 campaign team, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Member of Parliament for Manhyia and Dr. Nsiah Asare, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
Others were Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, member of the NPP communication team, Mr. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, Regional Chairman of the party, Mr. Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, MP for Sunyani East, Mr. Lord Commey, campaign team member and Dr. Kwasi Dei Anane, a Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist at the Berekum Holy Family Hospital.
The NPP Presidential Candidate said the party believes in fairness as a principle of social action since access to social services should be on the basis of need and that government had a duty to keep its people healthy.
Nana Akuffo-Addo stated that Ghana's transformation required a healthy population and therefore reminded government of its duty to ensure that the most vulnerable had access to quality health care.
He expressed satisfaction that the NPP had a record of care and achievement as the last NPP government introduced significant initiatives to expand health service coverage, promising that "the next NPP government will introduce comprehensive measures to tackle the fundamental problem of Ghanaians dying because they can’t get proper healthcare".