NHIA commences payment of arrears to private health facilities

Government has begun disbursement of arrears to Private Health Service providers on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)  for services they have rendered under the scheme.

According to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), parliament has approved the budget for the Authority to enable it clear the delayed arrears.

This comes after Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana threatened an industrial action due to government’s failure to pay claims for National Health Insurance Scheme.

According to the General Secretary of the Association, Frank Torblu Richard, health care delivery is being compromised in the country due to arrears since July 2021, dating as far back as nine months.

Government is said to owe the association about GH¢150 million.

However, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Lydia Dsane-Selby while addressing journalists on Wednesday April 13, 2022, said the Authority through government has commenced the disbursement of the arrears to the health service providers.

“We have already loaded September and October, so it’s about just making the payments. I would like to believe we have a good relationship with them, the threat was jumping on the bandwagon of the media saying we have been sacked from Parliament, that is what triggered that”

“You know sometimes a news item comes out which is not quite factual and everybody jumps on the bandwagon… we have a good relationship with them, I don’t think any of them want to leave the NHIS anytime soon” Dr Lydia Dsane-Selby said.

She used the opportunity to urge private health providers who have challenges in accessing their arrears to lodge a formal complaint for assistance.