Private health facilities threaten to withdraw NHIS services in 2 weeks

Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana [PHFAOG] has given two weeks ultimatum to government to pay a nine month deferred claims of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to all its members or they will withdraw their services.

They have accused the Ministries of Finance and Health of frustrating and unfairly treating their members.

President of PHFAOG Boakye Donkor, speaking to Nana Yaw Opare on “Yensempa” morning show on Onua FM, chided the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for deceiving President Akufo-Addo on payment of NHIS arrears to private health providers.

According to him, President Akufo-Addo was hoodwinked in announcing that the government owes service providers for just three months, when in fact, he said, the last time the facilities were paid was in July 2019.

“The people who give information to President Akufo-Addo don’t give him the right information, they are misleading him, and the President has to be careful about that”.

“How could the leadership of NHIA blatantly lie to president Akufo-Addo that government owe only three months of NHIS arrears to private health facilities,” he quizzed.

Mr. Boakye lamented the situation is having a toll on their operations as members are unable to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff in the face of Covid-19.

He said most private health facilities went for loans at cut-throat interest rates to run their facilities, noting that the interest rate is crumbling their facilities, all because of the government’s inability to pay NHIS debts on time.

Most of the private health providers, according to Mr. Boakye, have been dragged to court for non-payment of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions of staff.

He questioned why government even though owes them, would use its agency, SSNIT, to send them to court for failure to pay contributions.

Boakye Donkor has entreated government to as matter of urgency settle the NHIS debt owed private health providers or they would be compelled to resort to cash and carry in two weeks.