National Health Insurance To Pay Hospitals 30% More For Medicines And Services

• The National Health Insurance has announced that it will to pay hospitals more for medicines
• This follows a 30% increase in tariffs that came into effect from July 1, 2022, according to a statement from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)
• The NHIS says the upward review is part of plans to expand the coverage of health services to all Ghanaians

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has announced an upward review of tariffs to hospitals for medicines and other service providers by 30%.

The Scheme said in a statement dated July 4, 2022, that the upward review was part of the government’s efforts to expand the coverage of health services to all residents in Ghana.

“In accordance with the National Health Insurance Act 852, (Act 2012), the reviewed tariffs signed by the NHIA’s Chief Executive, Dr. Okoe-Boye became operational on July 1, 2022,” the statement from the NHIS Corporate Affairs Directorate said.

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The NHIS explained the increases in the service fee and medicines were done in consultation with the NHIA service providers and other critical stakeholders in the health sector.

“Per the mandate of the NHIA, the reviews are done periodically, following a very rigorous scientific process,” the statement said.

Explaining how the 30% tariff review was adopted, the statement said a national survey of the 546 medicine prices was done using the methodology of the World Health Organization and Health Action International (HAI).

“Pricing data was collected from manufacturers, wholesale distributors, private pharmacies, government, mission, and private health facilities located in all the sixteen (16) regions in the country. The output of the Framework Contract Agreement of the Ministry of Health was also factored into the pricing of the formulations within the contract arrangement,” it said.

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It said the prices provided are those agreed upon by the NHIA and stakeholders as the reimbursable price for medicines supplied under the scheme and show a 30% increment of the data collected.

Also, the new tariffs to service providers is expected to minimse the charging of unapproved fees charged to NHIS cardholders at health facilities. The move is also to decrease public confidence in the Scheme, the statement added.

Cost of living allowance: Four teacher unions declare nationwide strike from July 4

In a separate story, YEN.com.gh has reported that four teacher unions in Ghana have declared a nationwide strike from Monday, July 4, 2022, to push the government to pay Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana (CCT), want the government to pay them 20% of their basic salary as allowance.

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“We can no longer bear the hardship,” the teacher unions said in a joint statement. They cite gaping inequality in the salaries of public sector workers as demotivating.

Source: YEN.com.gh