Christian health centres resume treatment of NHIS cardholders

The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) has rescinded an earlier decision that suspended treatment of card bearers of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The Association ceased the treatment of the NHIS card holders due to the failure of the scheme to pay for services rendered over several months.

But a statement jointly signed by the Chief Executive Officer for the NHIA, Sylvester Mensah and the Executive Director of CHAG, Dr. Gilbert Buckle after a meeting on Wednesday, said:” It was agreed at the meeting that the issues raised by CHAG as the basis for the cessation of services are legitimate and required strategic multi-stakeholder input for policy consideration, a process that will require effective planning and consultation,”.

The statement explained: “The NHIA will thereafter work with CHAG to define a claims payment time lag that ensures certainty of payments taking into account current constraints and bearing in mind the legally mandated reimbursement period of 90 days.”

The association is made up 183 mission hospitals in the country, which cater for about 42 per cent of the healthcare needs of the people, especially those in deprived communities.