Various missionary hospitals across the country have reverted to the dreaded cash and carry system until arrears owed them by the National Health Insurance Authority have been cleared. Joy News correspondents who visited the various hospitals on Monday confirmed that patients carrying NHIS cards have been asked to pay for the cost of treatment or are sent home if they have no money. The return to the cash and carry system is in line with the directive by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), the mother body of 183 missionary hospitals nationwide who announced that its medical facilities will not continue to provide services to NHIS cardholders effective Monday, March 11, 2013. CHAG is owed in excess of 50 million cedis for health care services provided under the NHIS but the Authority has promised to pay the debt by Monday. After several meetings with the Health and Finance Ministers, officials of CHAG promised to rescind its decision to turn away patients with NHIS cards. Dr. Gilbert Buckle, Executive Director of CHAG, subsequently issued a circular asking all hospitals to accept emergency cases, all deliveries and all inpatients currently on admission before 11 March, should be treated under NHIS. But it appears the various hospital authorities are not complying with the directives spelt out in the circular. In the Ashanti Region, Ohemeng Tawiah of Nhyira FM reported that the patients are complaining about the treatment being meted out to them. At Kwadaso Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Kumasi, 42 patients have paid cash for services rendered to them, services which would otherwise have been covered by NHIS. Some of them said they were treated by their doctors but medicines prescribed were to be paid for- an amount they do not have. Ohemeng Tawiah said many of the patients had to go home because they did not have money. The situation is no different in Cape Coast where Richard Kojo Nyarko reported that the various hospital officials are now operating the Cash and Carry system. In Tamale, Hashmir Mohammed said patients are now going to the various government hospitals because the Missionary Hospitals are charging for their services. Meanwhile, the National Health Insurance Authority is surprised at what is happening at the various Missionary hospitals. Consultant for the NHIA, Amertor Quarmyne explained, cheques have been signed and the leadership of the association has been adequately briefed to avert this action. He appealed to the members of the Christian Health Association that they will keep to their word and ensure payment of the arrears.