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05.02.2009 Health

NHIS official decries abuse of scheme

By GNA
NHIS official decries abuse of scheme
05.02.2009 LISTEN


Mr Reindorf Osei, Manager of the Oguaa Mansin Mutual Health Insurance Scheme in Cape Coast, on Wednesday, expressed his concern about the abuse of the scheme by some clients, who frequent the hospitals with the “slightest” illness because health care was virtually free.

“Formerly, when people suffer from light headaches, they go to the pharmacy shops, but now they rush to the hospital with the slightest pain”, he said.

Mr Osei, who expressed these sentiments in an interview with the GNA in Cape Coast, said as a result, payment to the scheme's service providers increased from GH¢505,471.00 in 2007 to GH¢2,518,518.00 last year, indicating an increase of about 408.25%.

According to him, there has however not been any increase in the payment of premiums by the 119,686 beneficiaries, who are in both the formal and informal sectors.

Mr Osei, however, could not readily provide the amount of premium received so far.

On the types of treatments that the scheme caters for, Mr Osei explained that, service providers were paid only for drugs dispensed and which are on the health insurance drug list.

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