Health Ministry unsure when GH¢100m NHIA debt will be settled

The Ministry of Health is indebted to the tune of GH¢100million, Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has revealed.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, the Miniter said the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has received a total amount of GHS539,853,124.29 since January from the Ministry of Finance, funds that have since been disbursed to NHIA’s numerous creditors — including service providers, contractors, and suppliers.
“With the above-mentioned arrears (GH¢100million) that the ministry has inherited from the previous government, it will be difficult for me to tell the House when exactly all the arrears will be settled.
“We will plead with all to have patience while we look for fund to clear all the arrears,” the Minister told Parliament on Thursday.




The Minister had been answering a question posed by Member of Parliament for Wa West, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, on when the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) would settle all arrears owed service providers on the floor of parliament.
“Mr Speaker, apart from arrears owed the providers under the NHIS, the Ministry of Health also owes over GHS100million and this includes arrears of procurement on vaccines for 2016, GAVI co-financing for 2016 and 2017, Global Fund indebtedness arising from audit recoveries, among others.
“We share the agony and challenges of the providers of health service and pharmacists that the NHIA is indebted to and we are working tirelessly with the Ministry of Finance to clear the arrears. For now, the Ministry of Finance is releasing funds one month in arrears in accordance with the NHIA Act (Act 852),” he said.

Source:Myjoyonline