NHIS OWES BA HOSPITAL GH¢800,000

THE National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) owes the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital to the tune of GH¢800,000 for services the facility provided for clients under the scheme from various parts of the country.
The huge debt by the NHIS has seriously affected the hospital’s operations.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Daniel Asare, made this known when the new Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo paid a working visit to the hospital to acquaint himself with its operations.
He further stated that the hospital authorities’ efforts to retrieve the money from the NHIS officials had proved adamant.
Dr Asare said since 80 per cent of the patients who patronised the hospital were clients of the NHIS, the facility had no any other alternative than to rely on its internally generated funds for its sustenance.
He stated that most of the equipment in the hospital were also obsolete and some of them could not be repaired because their manufacturers were no longer producing those brands.
The medical director also lamented over the recent frequent power outages that had damaged of some of the hospital’s vital equipment.
He said the Nursing Training College (NTC) attached to the hospital also lacked accommodation and lecture theatres.
He stated that the hospital also lacked accommodation for doctors, forcing the authorities to rely on private landlords in the municipality who charged exorbitant rent advances.
Dr Asare announced that the hospital was collaborating with other hospitals in Tamale and Bolgatanga to start a teaching hospital.
The medical director said even though it was constructed about 10 years ago, the hospital had not been inaugurated, and expressed the hope that this time around, it would be inaugurated.
In his response, Mr Nyamekye-Marfo commended the management and staff of the hospital for their hard work and culture of maintenance.
He stated that since the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government placed premium on health care delivery, it would ensure that every Ghanaian received quality health care.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo, who was accompanied by the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Francis O. Boateng, assured the hospital authorities of his outfit’s support to enable them to provide improved health care for the sick.