GMA urges gov't&NHIA to reimburse all health facilities monies owed by various insurance schemes

The  Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has expressed its displeasure about the manner in which the government has handled the Tier 2 pensions of its members. GMA says the beneficiaries of the pensions Act 2008, Act 766 will be retiring in January 2015.  

The National Executive Council (NEC) after extensive deliberated on four key issues such as Tier 2 pensions, delayed reimbursement to health providers by National Health Insurance Scheme/National Health Authority(NHIS/NHIA)at its 4th NEC meeting in Tamale. 
The GMA says it is sad that it's members do not have any idea where they will be claiming their Tier 2 benefits or how much has accrued to them. 

Government the association said has failed to release or transfer the contributions of members of GMA to the health sector occupational pensions scheme which has been dully registered, licensed and approved by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) in line with the pensions Act 2008,Act 766. 

The GMA is also reminding government  that the inaction, commission or omission on its part is not in the interest of doctors in the public sector and that is affecting morale and general output of the doctors. 
The GMA also  indicated it supports the position of Organized Labour sector workers and will participate fully in all activities by organize labour to press home it's demand on proper management of the Tier 2 pensions. 

Most health facilities the GMA said rely heavily on the NHI/NHIA reimbursement to finance their activities to aid in the provision of quality health care to their clients. 
For the past 5-7 months the NHI/NHIA has not reimbursed various health facilities for work done, GMA lamented. 

The GMA president, Dr Kwabena Opoku-Adusei flank by NEC members  in an interaction  with the media in Tamale said it has led to a whereby most facilities heads are being harassed by their supplies. 

This, the association said invariably affects quality health care delivery and sometimes leads to out of pocket expenses carrying the NHIS card. GMA beliefs early release of funds could help facilities manage cholera cases bedevil some parts of country  better. 
GMA is therefore calling on the NHIA and government to as a matter of urgency take steps to reimburse all facilities the monies owed by the various insurance schemes to ensure uninterrupted health care delivery in the country.
It reiterate its call on government to suspend capitation as a mode of payment in the Ashanti region and also ensure that capitation is not rolled onto other regions of the country since it has failed woefully in the Ashanti region.
 On the recent cholera out break in Ghana, GMA describe it as the worst in the history of the country in terms of number of people affected as well as the resultant mortalities. 
It observed that, for the past five years the country has been experiencing annual cholera outbreaks due to the poor sanitation in the country. 

Statistics from the ministry of local government show that 50% of Ghanaians do not have access to toilet facilities and 23% are known to be practicing open defection. 
The statistics further shows that 97% of all the sewerage systems, in the country, are non-functional.
The association again call on government to come out wit a detailed comprehensive   Program informing all Ghanaians as to how it intends to help eradicate cholera. 
Meanwhile, GMA is advising Ghanaians to take all necessary precautions including proper personal hygiene to ensure that they are not affected by the diseases. 

The public health units of the various health facilities across the country GMA demand should be proactive and make it a project to embark on massive health educational campaign in their jurisdictions to stem the spread of the cholera epidemic.
GMA also taken note of the what it called a phenomenon of escalating unsubstantiated medical advertisement is a worrying development. 

Most claims by groups of individuals in the media, both electronic and print the association said are not based on any scientific evidence. “Most often than not,their interventions rather create complications for patients who end up losing are referred to the the health facilities too late; the motives of these are to exploit the vulnerable individuals in the society,”GMA noted.
The association has therefore called on the various media houses not to allow their facilities to be used to perpetuate these criminal acts on the people of Ghana.
In conclusion, GMA urged various bodies responsible for regulation of health advertisement including Food and Drugs Authority(FDA) as well as Ghana medical a and dental council to alive to their duties  to curb the canker.