Doctors' strike: NHIS cardholders directed to private hospitals

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has asked health insurance cardholders to revert to approved private health facilities for medical care.

This directive comes just days after some cardholders were refused healthcare due to the ongoing strike by medical doctors in the public sector.

Public Relations Officer of NHIS, Selorm Adonu, told Joy News the move is to help mitigate the impact of the strike on its customers.

“Access to health must not come to an end because [cardholders] are turned away from public hospitals. So this is our own way to try to mitigate the effect the doctors’ strike will have on our card holders,” he said.

Cardholders in Accra have been asked go to the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital as well as some 1,000 NHIS-credentialed private and faith-based healthcare facilities.

Patients in the rural areas have also been asked to go to Community-based Health Planning and Service (CHPS) compounds to seek medical attention.

Private hospitals cut ties with the NHIA in May this year due to nonpayment of their claims by the Authority.

The private hospitals, about 300 of them that make up the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners, began the cash-and-carry system and vowed not to attend to NHIS card holders until all monies owed them by NHIA are paid.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected]