The delay in the disbursement of statutory payments to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has long been a pressing issue, severely affecting effective healthcare delivery and the operations of both private and government hospitals across the country.
In a bid to ensure more efficient and prudent management of these payments, the Health Committee in Parliament has proposed taking on an oversight role. They plan to hold monthly meetings aimed at addressing administrative and financial bottlenecks that lead to delays in payments and potential mismanagement of funds, which may have been diverted to other sectors of the economy.
Speaking on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra, Honorable Eric Aful, the Member of Parliament for Amenfi West, emphasized the need for a payment plan to settle all outstanding debts owed to service providers within the healthcare sector and hospitals. This plan aims to work within the financial framework over a period of seven weeks.
Meanwhile, in response to the government’s initiative to provide free dialysis sessions for kidney patients under 18 and over 60 years old, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, has expressed skepticism about the sustainability of the NHIA’s move. While renal patients will receive eight free dialysis sessions per month from June 1 to December 2024, Akandoh suggests that the government should instead subsidize the fees for dialysis sessions.
Akandoh further disclosed that the government’s debt to service providers of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) currently exceeds GH¢2 billion. This revelation follows the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy’s decision to sell drugs only on a cash basis due to economic challenges.
Expressing concern over the situation, Dr. Frank Serebour, President of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), described the decision by the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy as worrying. He warned that this could potentially lead to the collapse of the National Health Insurance Scheme if urgent measures are not taken to stabilize the economy.
Story by: AYM Kukah
