Cash and carry, the dreaded phrase that became synonymous with health care delivery in Ghana is back. Private health facilities in the Ashanti Region are today turning away patients who fail to pay upfront. It follows the decision by managers of the private facilities to suspend the insurance scheme. They are protesting the implementation of a pilot capitation scheme in the region. The pilot scheme requires the NHIA to give health facilities a fixed predetermined amount of money to dispense all services for a set period. The authority is very angry at the development in Kumasi accusing managers of the private health facilities of promoting a hidden agenda. Luv FM’s Kwabena Ampratwum who has been speaking to subscribers who were turned away today reported that some of the patients are shocked about the development. The administrator of one health facility expressed her own frustrations at having to turn away patients because they have no money. Ampratwum said patients may have to brace up for the situation because there is no sign of the service providers backing down on their stand. The Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Private Medical and Dental Practitioners, Dr Emmanuel Harry Tawiah said the National Health Insurance Authority ignored their advice and a threat to withdraw their services and went ahead to implement the capitation system. He said they had suggested an increment in the premium for new entrants, co-payment, and increase in the NHIS component of VAT amongst others – suggestions which were all rejected. But the Corporate Affairs Director of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Eric Ametor-Quarmyne said the service providers are pursuing an unstated agenda. He said there was no justification for the action of the service providers.