The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has asked the government to promptly pay National Health Insurance claims to health facilities across the country.

The GMA says a failure of the government to pay the arrears can lead to a return to the ‘cash-and-carry’ system.

Last week, the Health Insurance Service Providers Association of Ghana (HISPAG) threatened to withdraw some services from March 2020 if arrears owed its members were not paid.

HISPAG advised the public and NHIS card holders to carry cash alongside their cards to meet the cost of any service that they may not be able to provide, immediately when visiting health facilities.

The GMA, in a statement signed by its President, Dr Frank Ankobea, said: “The Ghana Medical Association has noted with great concern the failure of the NHIA to pay health facilities (Public and Private Hospitals) for services rendered from or about March 2019 to date, resulting in some providers threatening to withdraw services to national health insurance cardholders.”

“GMA calls on the government and the NHIA to, as matter of urgency, pay all monies owed these facilities with immediate effect to ensure that they are not forced to initiate cash-and-carry as a mode of payment in their quest to ensure continuous service delivery as well as forestall their collapse and also for health insurance policyholders to get all the health services and benefits of the policy,” the statement added.