NHIS grounded in Ashanti Region

The Capitation System introduced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) on a pilot basis in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, has suffered a major setback as some key stakeholders in the region’s health sector have distanced themselves from it.

The Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners and Ghana Registered Midwives Association have threatened to abandon the capitation system indefinitely starting today, February 1, and revert to the cash and carry system.

The groups pointed out that the system, started on January 1 by the NHIA was detrimental to quality health provision and a major threat to the survival of their health facilities.

They complained that constant calls and concerns expressed by them and other key groups in the health sector to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to suspend the scheme have so far fallen on deaf ears.

In a press release authored on January 28, 2012, the groups said it had deliberated extensively on the capitation system and realized it was not the best, hence their decision to abandon it.

The release was signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners respectively, Dr. Emmanuel Tawiah and Dr. K. Antwi as well as Agatha Boahen, National Vice President, Ghana Registered Midwives Association.

They insisted that since the NHIA had decided not to pay heed to their calls to suspend the capitation system which it has imposed on them in the Ashanti region, they have unanimously agreed at a meeting held at KATH on January 27, 2012 to leave the programme.

“We suspend our services to NHIS subscribers from February 1, 2012 indefinitely,” the release stated.

Copies of the press release were sent to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Minister of Health, Ashanti Regional Minister, NHIA and Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services among other bodies.