Government has directed the release of GHc340,000 to settle health insurance claims at the Agogo Government Hospital in the Ashanti Region. The directive is in response to a three-day ultimatum issued by the hospital authorities to turn away patients on the National Health Insurance Scheme if managers fail to settle the indebtedness. The NHIS owes the hospital GHc500,000 in unpaid claims, and this has rendered the hospital cash-strapped. General Manager of the Agogo hospital, Thomas Mensah told Nhyira FM's Kofi Asante Ennin that the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Ras Boateng, has intervened but owing to a network challenge at a commercial bank, the hospital was required to pick a physical cheque in Accra. For the past one month, out-patient attendants have had to buy prescribed drugs from private pharmacy shops because the hospital cannot afford to supply them. Mr. Mensah says the patients will continue to buy drugs from private outlets until the cheque for payments is cleared. [Listen to the attached audio]