The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu has admitted he is not in position to assure NHIS service providers when arrears owed them would be paid by government.
He however maintained that nine months arrears have already been cleared and claimed by the providers.
The Health Minister made this disclosure on the floor of Parliament on Thursday when the MP for Wa West Yireh Chireh asked him when the National Health Insurance Authority will settle all arrears owed service providers.
The Minister indicated that as at the end of June, government owed providers to the tune of 844 million Ghana cedis.
“I will reiterate that the outstanding indebtedness not only to service providers but to all creditors of national health insurance as at the end of last month was GHc 844 million but as to when exactly this amount will be paid it will be difficult for me to stand here and tell the house”, he stated. “I must be very honest this is a very difficult mission, I cannot answer”.
When asked to tell the house, by projection, when the arrears would be paid, he simply replied, “this house does not entertain assurances that cannot be fulfilled. I am trying to be cautious so that I don’t breach any principle or convention of this chamber”.
Agyemang Manu however said the ministry is making tremendous effort at “very high level” to get money to improve the scheme.
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