The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has donated GH¢250,000 to the Covid-19 Trust Fund.

The cheque was presented Wednesday by the Board Chairman of the NHIA, Prof. Adu Gyamfi and the Authority’s CEO, Dr. Lydia Dsane at a press briefing by health officials and the government on the country’s situation on the pandemic.

The money will go to supplement government efforts to alleviate economic hardships on the vulnerable caused the Covid-19 outbreak.

Since the establishment of the fund, corporate bodies, individuals and churches including the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) have donated to the fund.

President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Mahamudu Bawumia have donated their three months’ salary to the fund.

But, the latest donation, coming from the NHIA has raised eyebrows.

Critics say the NHIA is indebted to health facilities and other related health service providers and should focus on clearing those.

“Guess you’re done clearing arrears to service providers,” Stephen Kwabena Attuh, a Facebook user wrote.

Another user, Abeiku Eshun wrote: “Misplaced priorities. You were crying out loud recently about insufficient money to render service to your customers. The mediocrity in this country is too much.”

“If you are not giving funds money to rich politicians to travel to some irrelevant workshops, you are giving funds to a greedy government but your core mandate which is to pay moneys to institutions that have provided services under the scheme you are not able to do. What kind of leadership are we bedeviled with in this accursed Ghana,” Nii Odoi Brown wrote.

Claims payment by the NHIA

However, the NHIA reported in February, 2020 that they have paid some GH¢91million to service providers.

Earlier this month, the NHIA also said it has paid more than GH¢207million “so far to its credentialed service providers.”

“The on-going payments will move lower tier providers (CHPS, health centers and maternity homes) claims paid close to November 2019.

“In the order of payments, public health facilities received Ghs106, 484, 179.54 representing 51.3% of the payments whiles the private service providers have been paid Ghs57,845,459.99 pegged at 27.9%,” the NHIA wrote.