CHAG facilities in UE refuse NHIS CARDS holders

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) medical facilities in the Upper East Region have complied with directives not to accept National Health Insurance Cards as a result of a backlog of debt owed them National Health Insurance Authority. The General Manager of the Presbyterian Health Service- Northern Sector, Mr. John Abugri who confirmed this to the Daily Graphic via telephone said the decision to resort to cash and carry system was to save the facilities from further sufferings as a result of no-payment for services rendered under the scheme. Checks by the Daily Graphic at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, as well as the Garu Presbyterian Hospital on Monday March 11, 2013 indicated that staff were attending to NHIS Card bearers already on admission before the directive were issued as well as expectant mothers and emergency cases. They maintained that these services were being rendered on humanitarian grounds and in line with the directive from the CHAG. Some clients who spoke to the Daily Graphic called on government to settle their financial commitment and to the CHAG institutions since they play a vital role in meeting the health needs of the people. They contend that if the protest continues for a long time will bring a serious health problem to many people in the area, considering the fact that most people depend on the CHAG facilities to access health care. In February, this year, members of the Association of Private Health Care Providers (APHCP) in the region also threatened o resort to cash and carry a result of failure by the National Health Insurance Authority to meet its financial obligation of reimbursing facilities. The Regional Secretary of the APHCP, Mr. Frank Fuseini at a meeting in Bolgatanga said hitherto, the delays in NHIS reimbursement was usually between two to four months on the average. However, the current situation is over six months for most of the facilities in the region especially for those under the Bawku and Bolgatanga Mutual Health Insurance Scheme. He said under the circumstances providers are faced with numerous challenges with regards to health service delivery in the region, among them are the non-payment of salaries to workers and lack of essential drugs. -End- Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh