The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has refused to take responsibility for the water crisis facing the Ridge Hospital which has forced patients to buy water from outside for treatment.

Hospital authorities had blamed their inability to afford alternative means to provide water on the delay in release of funds to them from the NHIA office.

But the NHIA says funds have been released for all the claims which were submitted on time. According to the NHIA, Ridge Hospital should blame itself for the late submission of claims.

The Ridge Hospital has been struggling to provide water for patients for several weeks now after one of the two bore holes at the hospital broke down; while the other has been destroyed as a result of ongoing construction works at the hospital.

Greater Accra Regional Manager of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Lawrence Amartey disclosed that his outfit has made efforts to pay all claims to all hospitals since June. He said hospitals whose payments have not been honored may have submitted claims late.

Though he described the situation as unfortunate, Mr. Amartey called on the hospital to work on their claims as stipulated by the Authority to avoid such uncomfortable and unhealthy situation.

Meanwhile reports from the Health Ministry say the minister, Sherry Ayittey has directed management of the hospital to find alternative means to provide water to the hospital.