Health Insurance Service Providers in Ghana have hinted of a withdrawal of some of their services from next month if government fails to pay their arrears owed through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Health Insurance Service Providers Association of Ghana (HISPAG) said no payment has been made for NHIS claims for up to 14 months.
HISPAG said at a press conference on Monday that the current situation has made it difficult to run their facilities and pay their employees.
“It has become very clear that the inability of the National Health Insurance to pay our claims is caused by the Ministry of Finance. The persistent narrative that the service providers are unable to submit their claims as a cause of the delay in reimbursement is unattainable.
“It is very sad that doctors, nurses put their lives at risk to save lives of National Health Insurance cardholders for which payment has not been received but to be put before court for non-payment of PAYE, pension contribution on behalf of their staff”, said Frank Torbu an Executive Director of HISPAG.
He further said, “We want the National Health Insurance to pay our bills up to 2019 September. We also demand that a comprehensive reimbursement plan be put together for us to sign as parties to this whole process. We have an immediate action to take if all these conditions are not met. Effective March 2020, the providers will be compelled to withdraw some services which continue to create a financial burden, especially those that are not within our control.”
HISPAG had threatened similar actions in February 2018 over nonpayment of arrears.
The development if not addressed could worsen the already fragile health system as they have hinted to initiate the popular ‘cash-and-carry system’.
By Jonathan Ofori, Daily Mail GH | joevica18@gmail.com
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