In a significant win for healthcare justice, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) clients who were unlawfully compelled to pay fees before treatment at Tamale West Hospital, One Heart Health Centre, and Global Medical Laboratory have finally received their refunded monies. The amounts, ranging from Ghc250 to Ghc400, were restituted through the intervention of the management of the NHIS in the Tamale Metropolis.
This move follows a damning revelation in October 2023 when officials from several healthcare facilities, including Tamale West Hospital, One Heart Health Centre, Global Medical Laboratory, Tamale Central Hospital, SDA Hospital, and Kabsad Hospital, were accused of extorting money from NHIS subscribers. Medicines covered by the NHIS were reportedly sold to patients, a clear violation of their insurance coverage.
The exposé, led by the Tamale Metropolitan Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), brought the issue to light during a stakeholders’ engagement on October 31, 2023. Mr. Abdul-Ganiyu Ahmed, the NHIA manager, revealed the alarming trend of illegal fees demanded from NHIS members, sparking immediate action to rectify the situation.
On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, the Assistant Public Relations Officer of the Health Insurance Scheme in the Tamale Metropolis, Alhassan Osman Baki, oversaw the disbursement of refunds at the One Heart Health Centre. He affirmed the NHIS’s commitment to relentlessly pursue justice for its clients, ensuring that all unlawfully taken funds are returned.
Baki stated this in an interview with Ghana360news “Now that we know that people are taking money illegally, we will continue to monitor the system to see how best they are given to our clients.” This assurance reflects the ongoing efforts of the NHIS management to uphold the integrity of the scheme and safeguard its subscribers from unwarranted financial burdens.
As the Tamale community witnesses the return of extorted funds, this marks a pivotal moment in the fight against unethical practices in healthcare. The NHIS’s resolute stance sends a clear message that patient welfare and adherence to insurance coverage will be vigorously defended, setting a precedent for fair and transparent healthcare practices in the region.
In the wake of the NHIS extortion scandal in Tamale, Asana Napari, the Accountant of One Heart Health Facility, has stepped forward to clarify the situation, asserting that the collected monies were a result of a system failure, not individual malpractice within the facility.
Napari explained, “We weren’t taking people’s monies that are not supposed to be taken. It’s just our system that failed us. We have refunded the money that our system took. It was the system that took the money, not we, the individuals in the facility. We are working to correct it, and we are also working to comply with the agreement we signed with the NHIS leadership in the Metropolis.”
This statement sheds light on the internal issues faced by healthcare facilities, emphasizing the distinction between intentional malpractice and technical glitches in their systems. The assurance of corrective measures and commitment to compliance with NHIS agreements suggest a proactive approach by One Heart Health Facility to rectify the situation and prevent future occurrences.
Patients who were affected by this unfortunate incident expressed their relief and gratitude after receiving their refunded monies. Speaking to diamondfmonline.com, some of the patients, unable to contain their happiness, extended their thanks to the NHIS management in the Tamale Metropolis for ensuring the reimbursement of their funds.
As the healthcare facilities work diligently to address system failures and regain the trust of the community, the collaborative efforts between the NHIS and the facilities underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in maintaining the integrity of the National Health Insurance Scheme. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical role that communication and corrective actions play in mitigating the impact of unforeseen challenges in the healthcare system.
Source: Ghana360news.com
