One Hundred and two million Ghana Cedis (GH¢102 million) have been released by the Ministry of Health through the National Health Insurance (NHIS) as payment for debt owed by the NHIS service providers across the country.
The amount is meant to be used as NHIS payment for the last quarter of the year 2013 for services rendered by the service providers to NHIA card bearers.
About 3,500 service providers whose claims have not been paid since the last quarter of 2013 are to benefit from the payment.
Tony Goodman, public relations officer of the Ministry of Health, said the money released into the NHIA FUND was to continue the gradual settlement of debts owned the service providers.
A release from the Ministry read, “The Ministry of Health wishes to announce that the Government has released financial resources through the National Health Insurance Funds to service providers across the country.”
“We hope that this will go a long way to provide quality healthcare to Insurance card holders,” it elaborated.
Mr Goodman said the Ministry was also collaborating with the Finance Ministry to ensure the release of the money for the payment of debts.
He said, “We have released the money into the fund and what is left is for the NHIA to process it for collection by service providers.”
Winfred Agboyigbor, Director of Corporate Affairs at the NHIA, acknowledged the receipt of the money adding that the Authority would begin the transfer of the monies to the various service providers that have submitted their completed claims forms.
“We will start the transfers to those who have submitted their claims forms,” he said.