The opposition New Patriotic Party has described as shocking, the suspension of healthcare services to National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card holders because of unpaid claims. Communications Director, Nana Akomea expressed worry over government’s delay in releasing funds to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), to enable it pay promptly, claims submitted by the service providers. Communications Consultant to the NHIA, Eric Ametor-Quarmyne on Monday told Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, host of the Super Morning Show on Joy FM that, conflict of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Law and the National Health Insurance Law (NHIL) are to blame for the delay in the payment of claims. Mr. Ametor-Quarmyne said although the NHIL clearly indicates that the two-and-a-half percent NHIS levy paid as VAT, should be paid into the accounts of the NHIA within Ninety (90) days, the law regulating VAT operations does not allow that. However, speaking Tuesday on the same platform, Nana Akomea said the reason given by the NHIA for the undue delay in paying service providers their claims, was untenable. The NPP’s Communications Director has therefore demanded an explanation from government, as to why “statutory funds cannot get to the NHIA” within the 90 day period. He criticized the government for making efforts to fund the creation of some 45 new constituencies prior to the 2012 general elections, purposefully to score political points, while at the same time healthcare providers were struggling to finance their operations as a result of the inability of the NHIA to pay claims owed them on time. A number of health facilities under the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), have suspended services to cardholders of the NHIS for non-payment of claims for the past Six months. The CHAG which is the mother body for 19 Churches operating 183 hospitals nationwide, says the NHIA owed its members more than Gh¢ 50 million as at January 31, 2013.