Ten insurance schemes owe hospital huge sum

Kumasi, Oct. 21, GNA - Ten Mutual Health Insurance Schemes (MHIS) in the Ashanti Region are indebted to the Kwadaso Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Hospital in Kumasi to the tune of GH¢ 830,000.

Pastor Kwabena Annor-Boafo, Health Ministries Director of the Ghana Union Conference (GUC) of the SDA Church, said they include Subin, Manhyia, Bantama, Asokwa, Atwima-Mponua, Bosomtwe, Atwima-Nwabiagya Bekwai, Agona and Mampong.

The amount has been outstanding since April and covered surgeries, deliveries and Out-Patient Department (OPD) services.

Pastor Annor-Boafo told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi that this was a major worry to the hospital and management found it difficult to pay for utility services and the hospital was running out of medical supplies. He said owing to the critical nature of the situation, they had met the Scheme Managers to demand payment without delay.

This, he said, was the only way clients of the scheme could be assured of access to health care at the facility. Pastor Annor-Boafo also touched on the celebration of "121 years of Adventism in Ghana" and the Health Ministries of the church has declared 2009 as "Health Emphasis Year".

Among programmes lined-up are blood donation, clean up exercises and outreach education campaign on mental health, narcotic and medicinal drug= s abuse.