The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has indefinitely suspended two health facilities for allegedly defrauding subscribers by charging them for services already covered under Scheme.

They are, Community Clinic at Mataheko and Family Maternity Home at Dansoman, all in the Greater Accra Region. They are also accused of “operating under poor standards and or inflating claims”.  However, a third facility, North Western Eye Centre has also been suspended for one month, effective August 1, 2014 and subject to the implementation of recommendations made by the NHIA.  

It brings to four, the total number of facilities punished by the NHIS in a week. Last week, the Authority handed a three-month suspension to the Adwoa Boatemaa Memorial Clinic also in Accra, from attending to NHIS clients.

The decision was reached after routine clinical audit inspections carried out at these health facilities, according to a release issued Wednesday, August 6, 2014 and signed by Selorm Adornoo, Communications Manager of the NHIA.

“The reasons stated above which contradict existing agreements between the NHIA and service providers came to light following routine clinical audit inspections carried out at these health facilities.

“The NHIA therefore finds the conduct of these facilities a breach of contract, and therefore unacceptable for them to continue providing service on account of the NHIS when they cannot adhere to basic conditions of engagement”.

The release emphasized: “The NHIA remains committed to ensuring quality standards and will do whatever it takes in the remit of its mandate to ensure that the interest of the card holder is protected”.