The Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners (SPMDP) has ordered its members to discontinue seeing clients with the National Health Insurance Scheme card holders.

This is due to the failure of government to pay their service provision allowances owed them.

In a statement to its members, the SPMDP has ordered its members to provide services to clients who are prepared to pay cash for it from May 4, 2015.

Last month, the Society threatened to suspend their services to NHIS card holders if the NHIA does not refund monies due its members within six weeks.

Various healthcare providers and organisations have over the past months threatened to withdraw services to NHIS card holders over unpaid claims owed them by the authority which is running into over È»500 million.

Below is the full statement

DIRECTIVES FROM THE OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT ABOUT NON-PAYMENT OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE PROVISION MONIES DUE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY.

 (SOCIETY OF PRIVATE MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTITIONERS)

Dear colleagues,

By majority decision, we issued a press statement about the non-payment of service provision monies due us on the 17th of March, 2015. We intimated that if all outstanding payments were not made by 30th April, 2015, we will not be able to continue seeing holders of NHIA cards. We will offer services to clients who will be prepared to pay cash for services.  

We have now received feedback from all the region about the payment structure. Most of us have been paid up to August, 2014. In the Northern Region the payment is up to July, 2014 as at today, 29th April, 2015. The situation has not changed. The value is the same.  

As from MONDAY 4th MAY, 2015, all members of the society are entreated to conform with our collective decision to see and offer services only to clients who will be prepared to pay cash for services. This situation will hold until all outstanding payments are made.

Yours sincerely,

National President of SPMDP (Dr Kwasi Odoi-Agyarko)