HISPAG Hints ‘Cash And Carry’ System Coming Back

The Health Insurance Service Providers Association of Ghana [HISPAG], has threatened to return to the cash and carry system if arrears owed its members by the National Health Insurance Authority [NHIA], are not paid immediately.

According to HISPAG, most of its members are owed about 20 months of claims, a situation that threatens their operations.

Speaking to Citi News, Public Relations Officer of the Association, Joseph Christian Amoah, the perennial delay in payment of the claims by the NHIA, is seriously undermining quality healthcare service delivery.

“Government should cash out as early as possible to salvage the situation, it can be next month, It can be next two months, it can be next three months, because providers are thinking, and they are taking a decision on a particular move and that move is cash and carry,” he said.

The Association is therefore calling on the government to take action to have the situation fixed as soon as possible, to prevent any future inconveniences.

Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Samuel Annor in 2017, said government was going pay to the National Health Insurance service providers the monies owned its members.

The Authority owes the service providers some GHc1.2 billion covering a 12-month period. Dr. Annor told Citi News that all other arrears will be cleared in due course.

The NHIA has always struggled with the payment of claims, a situation largely blamed on the lack of a sustainable funding approach for the scheme.