The officials from the operations department of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Bono region were at the Berekum Holy Family Hospital (HFH) to have first hand information on allegations leveled against them for charging extra bills from clients who visit the facility with NHIS cards.
According to the regional operations manager, Mr George Oppong Danquah, the authority has been informed that the Hospital is not abiding by the regulations governing the National Heath Insurance Scheme (NHIS). These include charging clients with extra bills rather than the mandated services they are to provide to the NHIS clients.
He reiterated that, in the Section 2 of the NHIS membership handbook, benefits members of scheme are privilege to are explained. Among these is access to free health care at all hospitals in the country including out-patients department (OPD) service, general and specialist treatments such as malaria, acute respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, ulcers, hypertension, acute eye infections, rheumatism, anaemia, intestinal worms disorders, acute ear infections, typhoid fever, dental carries, diabetes mellitus, sexually transmitted infections, asthma, skin diseases, laboratory test, amongst others. In Patient Service (IPD), also include Oral Health Services, Eye Care Services, Maternity Care and Emergencies.
He explained that all these services must be rendered free of charge to all NHIS clients across the country but HFH is accused of collecting monies from our clients especially those who visit the Maternal Care Unit. He said, they were there to confirm or deny the report received.
The officials from the department of operations held a meeting with hospital management and employed them to desist from the shameful act and truncate all irregularities happening at the facility. The team, together with management then toured the hospital- from ward to ward announcing to the patients especially those at the maternal care unit to resist any bill the hospital give them after accessing the facility with the NHIS membership card.
It also came to bare that the hospital which is a Christian facility is using different software to run the NHIS which is different from the one required by the National Heath Insurance Authority.
In response to that, the hospital management accepted the flaws in their operations and promised to effect a change.
Story by Opamogo Paparichy Berekum Ghana.
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