The Brong Ahafo Regional First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, says he has uncovered massive rot in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in some parts of the country.
Kwame Baffoe, known in the political circle as ‘Abronye DC' alleged that some doctors and pharmacist have conspired and deliberately selling drugs which are covered by the Insurance Scheme to patients and later fill the claim form and take money from the insurance scheme again.Â
A statement posted on his Facebook wall and intercepted by PrimeNewsGhana stated that “I have taken the cost and opportunity to visit a few government hospitals in the rural areas. My emphasises today is going to be solely on the Salvation Army Polyclinic Agona Duakwa because that is where I witnessed much rot. And also, that is where the people are deprived and need to heard.
“This simply means that whilst the government is paying for the medicine and services rendered by the hospital, the hospital also takes money from the patient to the hospital ends up receiving double payments for just one drug. This behaviour is demonic and heartless one because Agona Swedru is a deprived communityâ€.
Read below the full statement:
NHIS IS NOT "WORKING" IN SOME GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS PARTICULARLY SALVATION ARMY POLYCLINIC IN AGONA DUAKWAÂ DUE TO THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF SOME DOCTORS AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATORS.
The National Health Insurance Scheme is a policy I have always supported and admired because it is a real social intervention policy initiated by the NPP under the able Former President John Agyekum Kuffour.
It is however clear that the NPP inherited a deplorable National Health Insurance Scheme in the year 2017. After 8 years in opposition, the NPP came back into power to meet the policy not improved upon by the NDC but virtually destroyed and collapsed by the Boko Haram party (NDC).
After we took over power in 2016, the government immediately took steps to rescue the service scheme from collapsing.
The president through his God-given wisdom appointed Dr Samuel Annor to lead the rescue mission. It is not yet two years but all and sundry can attest to the fact that, the service scheme has been restored and rescued. The debts of the service providers have been paid.
The NHIS was implemented to basically ensure that the poor in society are catered for medically at no fee.
Despite the efforts and structures put in place by Dr Samuel Annor, there are a few people in the system who carry the demonic DNA of NDC and have planned to destroy the scheme under this regime.
I have taken the cost and opportunity to visit a few government hospitals in the rural areas. My emphasises today is going to be solely on the *Salvation Army Polyclinic Agona Duakwa* because that is where I witnessed much rot. And also, that is where the people are deprived and need to hear.
It came to my notice that, some doctors and pharmacist have conspired and deliberately been selling drugs which are covered by the Insurance Scheme to patients and they later fill the claim form and take money from the insurance scheme again. This simply means that whilst the government is paying for the medicine and services rendered by the hospital, the hospital also takes money from the patient to the hospital ends up receiving double payments for just one drug. This behaviour is demonic and heartless one because Agona Swedru is a deprived community which has retarded development.
This is a criminal offence, isn't it?
Through my investigations, I uncovered that the following drugs which are paid for by the NHIS are also being sold to patients at the hospital. Most common among the drugs include;
Iv artensunate (ghc 75 )
Iv ciprofloxacin (ghc 15)
Iv methronidazole (
Iv cefuroxime (ghc 15)
Iv ceftriaxone (ghc 15)
Amp tothema (
The above-indicated drugs are frequently used drugs In our hospitals. I realized that on some of the drugs, it had the inscriptions "not for sale" but because the majority of those who visit that hospital are uneducated, and are in desperate need of help, some of the doctors and pharmacist try to use their wisdom on them which is practicably unfair and inhuman.
After they have sold the drugs to the patient, they later come and cry unto the government for them to be paid double.
In as much as the Service Scheme is doing well, I think they have more work to do.
The National Insurance Health Scheme must establish a strong taskforce or team to investigate such happenings in especially our rural communities and punish all persons who would and are found culpable.
Just in case
Salvation Army Polyclinic is not the only hospital or clinic that is engaging in this such act. Several other hospitals are doing same but they are at the apex in the deprived community of Agona Duakwa.
Finally, I would like to encourage all and sundry to be vigilant whenever they visit the hospital. They must demand receipt and explanations for every
#CitizenNotSpectator
#GhanaMustWorkAgain