The Ghana Medical Association has warned that the country could return to the dreaded days of ‘cash and carry’ if monies owed hospitals are not settled.

The National Health Insurance Authority, according to the President of the Medical Association, owes the hospitals, “both public and private, services rendered from September 2018 to May 2019.”

Dr. Frank Ankobea at a press conference Sunday, called on “the government and the NHIA, to as a matter of urgency pay all monies owed these facilities with immediate effect.”

This, he said would “ensure that the health facilities will not initiate cash and carry…their quest to ensure continues service delivery and well as forestall their collapse.”

President out of touch?

Contrary to the concerns of the Medical Association, President Nana Akufo-Addo declared earlier this year that his government has saved the health insurance scheme.

In his 2019 State of the Nation Address in February, Akufo-Addo said: “...today, our NHIS is buoyant.”

He added that his government has “paid up the GH¢1.2 billion arrears…inherited, and brought the operations of the NHIS back to life.”

Listen to the President of the Medical Association: