NHIA appeals to media to be circumspect

Mr Sebastian Alapulinsa, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Manager of Operations of the NHIS, has appealed to media practitioners to be circumspect in reporting issues about the scheme in order not to create fear and panic among the people.

He said the media should refrain from reporting that the scheme had collapsed in some communities and advised service providers to be cautious about information made available to the media on their operations.

Mr Alapulinsa made the call at a two-day training workshop for 60 health workers and providers of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) from the Nkoranza South Municipality and the Nkoranza North District at Nkoranza.

The workshop organized by the NHIA in collaboration with Ghana Health Service (GHS) was to educate the participants on the Standard Treatment Guidelines and Application of the NHIA’s revised tariffs and medicine list.

In addition, it was to equip them with the knowledge to enable them work with the approved rules and regulations.

Mr Alapulinsa cautioned service providers against fraudulent deals and claims, and warned that the contract of any service provider involved in such negative practices would be abrogated or cancelled.

Dr Dery Fulgentius, Superintendent of Sunyani Municipal Hospital stressed the need for service providers to keep accurate records and reports on their services to meet the expected demands of the NHIA and free themselves from deductions from the Claims Management.

He said allegations that the NHIS was collapsing would mean the collapse of any individual’s health care, a challenge that would affect all and sundry.

He therefore, called on the general public and stakeholders to play their respective roles towards the sustainability of the scheme.

Mr James Adu Bona, Claims Manager of the Nkoranza Municipal Scheme, called on service providers to avoid errors while preparing the claim forms to reduce issues that would affect their operations.