Source: MyjoyOnline.com
Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu has proposed that legislators be offered lifetime health insurance even after they leave office.
According to him, the work of a legislator comes with so much pressure, which sometimes translates into health conditions. These illnesses are expensive to treat he stated.
He said most of their ex-gratia goes towards their health expenses, leaving them poor and bankrupt.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on March 7, Mr Iddrisu referenced the case of a former MP who needed GH¢12,000 to undergo surgery but could not afford it.
The former Minority leader added that this led to the MP’s unfortunate demise.
“I know we have tried, even the medical facility in Parliament should be made open and free to former MPs. That was a decision enforced by the experiences of a former MP that you cannot even acquire quality medical care.
“So beyond ex-gratia, you cannot look after your health, you cannot look after your children’s health,” he said.
On his part, Asawase MP Mubarak Muntaka advocated free healthcare for former MPs and urged the House to endorse this initiative.
“We must begin to bond because, beyond this House, nobody thinks about you. If you think anybody thinks about you, forget it. Look, I don’t know, those in the chamber today, you are lucky you have not seen any by-elections.
“We had Kumawu. You will see your colleague’s coffin is there, and people are already wearing T-shirts to dance around and jump to disgrace you.
“Nobody is thinking about his family, his children and about the pain they are going through.
“They just happen to replace him. So, each of us who are sitting here. If you think you are important, you are not important at all to anybody,” he said.
Addressing the matter, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin emphasised that the issue of parliamentary health is not a new concern.
He recalled that during his tenure as Majority Leader, they collectively decided that MPs should undergo comprehensive medical examinations annually.
Mr Bagbin mentioned that despite signing a contract with Korle-bu Teaching Hospital to enable regular health check-ups for parliamentarians, the initiative ultimately proved unsuccessful.
“Reports from Korle-Bu showed that several members said this was an invasion of their privacy and they were not going to subject themselves to that kind of comprehensive medical examination by the Korle-Bu hospital.”
In the early hours of March 7, Deputy Minister for Finance and Ejisu MP, Dr John Kumah passed away.
He leaves behind a legacy as a devoted family man, being survived by his wife, Apostle Mrs. Lilian Kumah, and six children.
When the news reached Parliament, legislators could not continue the debate and moved to adjourn the House.
