Ghana’s health delivery is bound to suffer a major setback if the concerns of health providers regarding the national health insurance scheme are not addressed.
The Christian Health Association of Ghana has threatened to pull out of the scheme by July 2nd.
The association has over a 160 hospitals offering some 50% of health services in the country.
Their concerns, also shared by private health providers are unpaid claims in arrears for more than five months.
They also complain government is paying them noncommercial amounts running them into losses.
The association has questioned government’s nonpayment of the national health insurance levies as directed by law.
The association also indicates that the capitation system in the Ashanti region is not paying realistic rates for the services rendered clients.
According to the executive director of CHAG, Mr. Gilbert Buckle, they are not ready for any empty promises from government and the national health insurance authority.
“The church is saying enough is enough. We cannot be having a dialogue for years in the name of ‘it is ongoing’ and ‘a decision must be made’. We want to make sure that reimbursals meet the actual economic price of what is offered,” he emphasized.
He also demanded that there be a “fixed schedule of review of tariffs which ensures economic tariffs all the time.”
This he says will protect the institutions from losses incurred due to rising market prices and exchange rate fluctuations.
He says they will carry out their threat if government fails to give any tangible assurances.
Meanwhile the national health insurance authority says payments for the arrears will be released in the coming weeks.
Disclosing this to ultimate radio, its director of communications, Selorm Adornu said the tariffs had already been reviewed with economic rates considered and will be implemented this week.
“They say the arrears are for five months but technically it is just a month or two. We are working around it to ensure that in the next week or two, their monies get paid to them” he cleared.
“We reviewed our tariffs just last month and in the next few days you will hear we are implementing it,” he added.
He assured that “there isn’t cause for alarm” as the NHIA will address the concerns of the Christian Health Association before the July 2nd deadline.
