Private health facilities across the country have begun suspending National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) services, directing cardholders to pay out-of-pocket due to prolonged arrears owed by the government.
The directive, issued by the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFAoG), comes amid rising frustration over delays in reimbursement of NHIS claims—some reportedly stretching back as far as eight months.
In an interview with Citi News, Aaron Nyamekye, Deputy General Secretary of PHFAoG, said the financial burden from the outstanding arrears has crippled many private healthcare providers, threatening their operations.
“Even though government through the NHIA has released a statement comforting the service providers that indeed they are going to pay for the services and they have started the process—we have no qualms about that,” he said.
“But in the end, what we want to see is evidence that the payments are in the accounts of the service providers. If not, we are going to stand by our action and we are even going to intensify it in the coming days,” Mr. Nyamekye warned.
He added, “What we are going to announce to the general public is our crusade on everybody taking money from clients who visit their facilities because there is absolutely no money to run healthcare. That is the current situation.”
The NHIS is a major component of Ghana’s public health system, designed to ensure access to affordable healthcare. However, the scheme has been plagued by funding challenges, with both public and private providers routinely complaining about delayed payments.
While the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has assured providers that payments are being processed, the private health association insists words are no longer enough, demanding immediate evidence of funds transferred.
The standoff raises concerns over access to essential health services for millions of NHIS subscribers, especially the vulnerable who rely on private facilities in underserved areas.
Health policy analysts are warning that unless the issue is resolved quickly, it could lead to a deeper healthcare crisis, especially in the private sector that complements government efforts to provide universal health coverage.
