Hospitals take cash from NHIS subscribers as NHIA debt hits the roof

Hospitals across the country say they are struggling to provide basic care for patients due to the high indebtedness of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

The Authority owes about 400 members of the Health Insurance Service Providers Association (HISPAG) more than 36 million cedis in unpaid claims.

In the Upper West Region for instance, Joy News Correspondent, Rafiq Salam reports the situation is making it difficult for hospitals to treat patients.

NHIA owes over 19 million Ghana cedis to health facilities in the region, hospital authorities tell Rafiq.

Since Monday February 8 2016, HISPAG has been charging cash for services provided health insurance cardholders.

HISPAG has expressed concern over a directive by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to the NHIA to halt payment of claims because of ongoing probe into fraudulent activities at the Authority.

HISPAG says that directive is collapsing the health insurance scheme and impeding operation of hospitals.

Executive Director of HISPAG Frank Tobloh has told Joy News a roadmap agreed with government on the payment has not been followed.

“As at April last year, some facilities were not paid. That is the situation we find ourselves in. We have resolved that anybody who holds the National Health Insurance Cards and gets into any of our facilities, we are not going to turn them away but make sure they pay cash for the service and the drugs that we provide for such persons,” Tobloh said.