The Deputy Minister for Health, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, has announced that government has resolved to pay the fourth claims of suppliers and service providers of the National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) by the end of this month.
“I can confidently tell you that by the end of this month at least another payment which will be the fourth one since the Nana Akufo-Addo government took over is going to be paid to the suppliers and the service providers,” he said.
According to him, the monies are going to be paid within the two weeks ultimatum and more of these substantial payments will be made in June next month.
This statement comes as a result of several promises by government to settle the 12 months arrears and subsequent threat by service providers to withdraw their services.
Executive Secretary of the Christian Health Association of Ghana, Peter Yeboah spoke of his disappointment when he heard about the turn of events.
“…Given that we have waited for 12 solid months and the debts that are being owed to member institutions continue to wreck our system. Our suppliers, Pharmaceutical companies continue to harass hospitals for non-payments of these bills; our banks continue to ask for repayments of debts with interests.
Our hospitals are being closed down by electricity and water companies for non-payment, we think that this piecemeal and token payment from government is highly disappointing,” he said.
Mr. Gyedu explained that when the New Patriotic Party took over service provider’s department was over and above a billion Ghana Cedis and therefore pleads with them to bear with the present government.
He further added that the government has some reconciliation and that a schedule has been made to clear all the arrears which he decided not to make public for now.
Mr. Gyedu, made these pronouncements at the staff durbar held by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to introduce the staff from Greater Accra and representatives from the other regions to the new board of the institution.
He ensured that “We don’t want to do anything behind the scenes; we want to go public and tell Ghanaians that this scheme is here to stay and we want to make it as good as possible. The vision is to make it the best in Africa if not the world.”
