Delays in NHIS claims over- Dr Kunbuor

Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - Health Minister Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, has noted that delays in the payment of the National Health Insurance claims have been halted and arrears between 2007 and 2009 paid.

He said what was left to be paid is only a tiny percentage.

Dr Kunbuor was responding to questions at the floor of Parliament in Accra on Wednesday.

He said modern claims processing centre have been established and is currently handling demands from the teaching and regional hospitals.

At full capacity the Minister said the centre is capable of processing 15,000 claims a day, however, the facility is currently processing 10,000 a day.

"Monitoring of the activities of the District Mutual Insurance Schemes and vetting of claims have been sealed up as important cost control intervention," he said.

He noted that an electronic monitoring of prescribing patterns is also being developed.

Dr Kunbuor unveiled plans by government to provide Nkwaakwaa and Serentiatia with Community Health Improvement projects. He said government is negotiating for a concessionary loan to construct 12 hospitals including a 100- bed Municipal Hospital in Weija.

The Minister said Dadieso Health Centre, has been listed as part of the 23 newly completed health centres under the Rural Health Services Project II.

He said the project was planned for District Assemblies to provide accommodation with funding from the Ministry of Health (MOH).

"Unfortunately District Assemblies in most of the beneficiary sites have renege from this co-financing arrangement," he said.

Dr Kunbuor said the MOH had therefore decided to capture the 23 centres as part of the uncompleted projects of the ministry for which a concessionary loan is being secured for completion.