Assin-Sibinso (C/R)-Ghana, Nov. 10, GNA – A Director at the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Very Reverend Father Stephen Amoah-Gyasi, has said the delay in the payment of claims to service providers under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is having adverse effects on the finances of the providers.
He said the practice could lead to the collapse of some facilities especially, private ones if not addressed, as many facilities were taking loans with interest to operate.
Accordingly, he called on the government to expedite action on the payment of outstanding NHIS claims to keep its members in business amidst the prevailing harsh economic conditions.
Rev Amoah-Gyasi made the appeal at the commissioning of a health centre for the people of Sibinso in the Assin South District of the Central Region.
The $3000 facility funded by the Rotary Club of Canada and America has an outpatient department with the requisite consulting rooms; waiting area for antenatal and post-natal services, delivery rooms, an ante-natal consulting room, a counselling room, treatment room, a mini laboratory, among others.
Rev Amoah-Gyasi said the situation did not only affect NHIS acceptor rate, but the efficiency of healthcare delivery in the country and the survival of the pharmaceutical companies that supplied medicines to the hospitals.
“I am worried about how NHIS cardholders are sometimes asked to buy medicines including paracetamol from outside health facilities because they are not on the insurance list.
“This phenomenon is what discourages people from being enrolled on the system. We want the government to release the funds on time to ensure its sustainability for all patients to have access to free, quality, and accessible medical care,” he pleaded.
Touching on the essence of the health centre in the town, Rev Amoah-Gyasi said bringing primary health care to the doorstep of communities and individuals remained high on the agenda of the Rotary Club.
Hence, the provision of health infrastructure was part of a broad strategy to improve geographical access to health care and improved health outcomes to also reduce maternal and neonatal mortalities
On behalf of the Rotary Club of Canada and America, Ms Kim Spirou said the avoidable death of a child who was bitten by a snake in the community, and many others pushed them to support the community.
She said young children would not have died if there was readily accessible medical care in the Area, hence, their commitment to bring quality health care to the doorstep of all.
Mrs Elizabeth Adwoa Wood, the District Director of Health, thanked the Rotary Club for the gesture and pledged to maintain the project to ensure it achieved its purpose as part of the national roadmap to deliver Universal Health Coverage.
