The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has issued a stern warning to healthcare providers that continue to charge its members illegal fees when they come to seek health care in their facilities.
The Authority has inaugurated a nine-member committee in Accra, to crack down illegal charges preventing NHIS enrolment.
According to the Authority, the charging of these illegal fees was having a toll on renewal of membership cards due to the bad experience they get whilst trying to seek healthcare in these facilities.
He noted that the situation was one of the major factors discouraging Ghanaians and for that matter many residents of the region from enrolling unto the scheme as well as renewing their membership.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Authority (NHIA), Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye made these known at the inauguration of a nine-member committee in Accra to crack down illegal charges preventing NHIS enrolment. He that these illegal charges were punishable per the contract NHIS and the service providers.
He said most often service providers asked clients who were beneficiaries of the scheme to pay for the services rendered to them, when indeed those services were covered by the scheme already, thus making beneficiaries lose confidence in the system.
He said it was illegal for any service provider to charge any NHIS holder for treatment already covered by the scheme, and urged victims to report such cases to the NHIA with evidence for appropriate action to be taken. He called on Ghanaians to enrol and remain active always because despite the challenges the scheme faces, it is better than never.
Dr. Francis Asenso-Boadi, chairman of the nine-member committee assured to work diligently with the committee to ensure the Sucess of the scheme.
