Volta NDC raises the alarm over ‘collapsing’ NHIS in their region

The Volta Region chapter of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is drawing the attention of government and concerned stakeholders to the “sorry” state of the country’s health policy, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) within their jurisdiction.

In a statement, the Communications directorate of the NDC alleged that government has failed to pay service providers for over ten months, a situation which is causing health officers deny patients with on the NHIS, proper healthcare.

They said, “Facts available to us shows that with the over 260 NHIS accredited facilities in the region, the government is owing service providers for Eleven months, Ten months among others, leading to the lack of better services at most accredited NHIS facilities across the region.”

The NDC, among other things also bemoaned how most of the NHIS offices in the Volta region are under-resourced and, therefore, are unable to discharge their duties effectively.

“We have noticed rather sadly most of the NHIA offices in the region( example Ho municipal NHIA) find it difficult to fuel their vehicles to enable them undertake outreach programs hence affecting the registration of the aged and children unto the NHIS scheme,” they disclosed.

Read the full statement below

NHIS IS COLLAPSING IN THE VOLTA REGION

The attention of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has been drawn to the rather sorry state of the National Health Insurance Scheme in the region.

Facts available to us shows that with the over 260 NHIS accredited facilities in the region, the government is owing service providers for Eleven months, Ten months among others, leading to the lack of better services at most accredited NHIS facilities across the region.

The situation is so precarious and very disheartening.

There are instances where some patients with NHIS cards are turned down at some facilities, while others are asked to buy their own drugs at pharmacies and outlets even though the drugs prescribed are among the list of drugs covered by the NHIS.

These patients are being denied the rights to enjoy the full services of the health insurance scheme though their cards have not expired.

We have noticed rather sadly most of the NHIA offices in the region( example Ho municipal NHIA) find it difficult to fuel their vehicles to enable them undertake outreach programs hence affecting the registration of the aged and children unto the NHIS scheme.

The NDC have also realised, some facilities do not have money for consumables such as ribbons, cards and payment for prepaid. For this reason, they turn down people who come to the NHIS offices to either register or renew their cards with the excuse that they are having a network problem.

The current state of affairs in the Volta Region regarding the NHIS brings to question President Nana Akufo-Addo’s description of the NHIS in his SONA as “working”.

The experience that people in the Volta Region go through when they want to access health care using the NHIS does not depict a scheme that is ‘working”.

Service providers such as the Margaret Marquet Catholic Hospital is owed GHC4.3 million, Anfoega Catholic Hospital is owed GHC 3.1 million, St Francis Clinic Ghc300,000 among many others in the region. Looking at the healthcare delivery in the Volta Region, majority of our rural folks patronize the CHPS zones, the service providers at these facilities are also being owed by the government thereby putting further hardship on the already stressed economic situation of the local folks.

The NDC as a party in the region is alarmed by the state of affairs of the NHIS in the region especially when the former CEO of the NHIA Dr. Samuel Annor, an appointee of President Nana Akufo-Addo said the scheme is likely to collapse in 2019.

We call on President Nana Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to show much commitment to the scheme else it collapses.

Signed:

Volta Communication officers

Mr. S. K Agbleze

Mr.Bright Delali Kugbeadzor

24/04/2019