NHIS In Danger As Pharmaceutical Companies Vow To Cut Supplies

Pharmaceutical companies are threatening to suspend drug supplies to accredited National Health Insurance Scheme facilities across the country.

The companies reached the decision at a meeting in the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi on Tuesday to consider numerous proposals about their dealings with the NHIS.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has not paid for services rendered by the providers for months, making it impossible for them to pay their suppliers.

The service providers are preparing to go to court to compel the NHIA to make full payment for services rendered to NHIS accredited institutions.

Director of Operations and Communication of Health Insurance Service Providers Association, Tony Amekah, told Joy News most of the pharmaceutical companies are in financial distress.

“Since February, with some dating as far back as August last year, payments have been in arrears”, he said

The companies, he said, have had discussions with NHIA but they have discovered the delay is caused by the Ministry of Finance.

Mr. Tony Amekah explained that some pharmaceutical companies which went for loans, at interest rates as high as 45% to make supplies, have now been burdened by huge debts because of the delays in payment.

'Very soon' the pharmaceutical companies would resort to the courts to see their demands met, he asserted.

Joseph Christian Amoah, PRO of Health Insurance Provider Association of Ghana, accused the government of breaching an agreement to make payment within 90 days of service.

He charged government and NHIA to 'be up and doing', and warned the companies will not accept any piecemeal payment of the amounts accrued.

Source: Myjoyonline.com