Management of health facilities in the Upper West Region has become difficult due to some GhȻ19 million owed them by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

This was revealed by the Acting Regional Health Director, Dr Winfred Ofosu, at the 2015 annual review meeting, Wednesday.

He said hospitals in the region have not been paid claims since May 2015. As a result, the hospitals have been unable to purchase medicines and non-medical consumables.

In some cases, patients are forced to purchase drugs from outside the various hospitals.

The Medical Superintendent of the Upper West Regional Hospital, Dr William Doudu told Joy News’ Rafiq Salam that over GhÈ»4 million of the 19 million cedis is owed the hospital.

He said this has resulted in the regional hospital’s inability to pay its casual workers for the past few months.

"They have not been able to fuel vehicles at the hospital and the situation gets worse by the day," Dr. Doudu said.

Musmin Iddrisu, whose father has been admitted at the Upper West Regional hospital, said he has spent over GhȻ1000.00 on drugs. This he says would have been less if he had bought them at the hospital.

Rafiq reports that despite the huge debts, the hospitals in the region still accepts the health insurance cards.