The president of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Frank Serebour, has made a passionate plea to the government to increase the amount allocated to each patient under the National Health Insurance scheme.
This call comes in light of the mounting utility bills that hospitals are facing, which are currently being paid from NHIS claims and Internally Generated Funds.
Dr. Serebour, who also serves as the medical superintendent for the Bekwai Government Hospital, emphasized the unsustainability of the current arrangement where directors of government health facilities have to cover water and electricity bills. He highlighted that initially, the government used to pay these utility bills, and now with the burden shifted to hospitals, a realistic tariff should be set to cover the costs adequately.
The GMA president pointed out the challenges faced by hospitals, especially those in rural areas, as they cater to a large number of patients with National Health Insurance. For example, at the Bekwai Government Hospital, 90% of patients are covered by NHIS, with a significant portion of the claims going towards electricity expenses.
Dr. Serebour expressed concerns about the dire consequences on healthcare delivery if the government does not intervene to address the issue of utilities in public health facilities. He called for a reevaluation of the National Health Insurance collection and allocation processes to ensure sustainability and equitable distribution of funds.
He urged transparency from all agencies involved in collecting Health Insurance levies and premiums, emphasizing the need for accountability in the disbursement of funds back to the NHIA for claims payment. Dr. Serebour stressed the importance of finding a solution to the utility bills dilemma to prevent adverse effects on healthcare services in the country.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana
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