The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says it has made additional payments in excess of ¢87 million to its service providers across the country. 

In a recent publication issued by the Authority, the National Health Insurance Scheme’s managers it had paid ¢598, 940,611.70 to NHIS Service Providers as Claims payments made so far in 2020.

However the additional payments now brings the total claims paid to ¢686, 021, 529.04 as at 18 June 2020 which includes withholding taxes paid on behalf of the providers.

These rapid payments are a manifestation of the pledge made by its Chief Executive, Dr Lydia Dsane-Selby in a recent media interview.

She stated that, "going forward will be publishing claims payments made on behalf of service providers to re-assure all stakeholders of the transparency of our payments". 

Of the total amount paid, ¢685,192,368.63 represents actual Claims which were paid in the following order; public health facilities have this year received ¢360,633,694.60 representing 52.6% of the payments whiles the private service providers have been paid ¢199,330,418.26 pegged at 29.1%.

Mission health facilities (CHAG) have also received ¢112,133,897.40 representing 16.4% whilst Quasi-Government service providers have been paid ¢13,094,358.36 representing 1.9% of the total payments made to date. 

Forty Six percent of the sum paid is made up of payment for medicines prescribed by the service providers and is estimated to be approximately ¢320,000,000. 

It recent statement jointly issued by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana and the Chamber of Pharmacy, they accused health care facilities funded by the NHIA of failing to pay for pharmaceutical products supplied to them for more than 12 months. 

This development is worrying and of great concern to the Authority as it has the potential to adversely affect the medicine supply chain and negatively impact on the quality of care that the NHIA aspires to obtain for the Ghanaian public.

Management strongly urges healthcare facilities funded by the NHIA to promptly settle their debts to the pharmaceutical companies to avoid any disruptions in the medicine supply chain. 

The NHIA is committed to further reducing any outstanding Claims to ensure that the Scheme’s members continue to receive quality healthcare.

Service Providers are critical partners in the NHIA’s drive to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and must guarantee quality of healthcare to NHIS members and their patients as a whole. 

As a major stakeholder in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, NHIS members are advised to renew their membership by dialing *929# from any mobile network with a mobile wallet to enjoy uninterrupted healthcare services.