Ensure debts owed us are paid now Pharmaceutical firms to government

The Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association of Ghana and the Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana have called on government to ensure that monies owed their members by NHIA-accredited health facilities are paid immediately.

The two associations warned the withdrawal of services from all National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) funded health facilities effective 1st July 2020 if the call is ignored.

A joint statement signed by the Chairman of Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana, Harrison K. Abutiate, decried the failure of NHIA funded health facilities, regional medical stores and providers who are party to the framework contract to pay for pharmaceuticals products supplied to them for more than 12 calendar months.

“This will ensure that pharmaceutical companies are not forced to initiate supplies to the service providers in question-based on bank guarantees and /or cash and carry as a mode of payment in their quest to ensure continuous service delivery as well as avoid the collapse of their companies which are already distressed.”

“In the absence of the above, both entities will have no other option than to stop supplies on credit to all NHIA funded health facilities effective 1st July 2020,” the statement added.

The association also stated that for transparency in repayment, the Minister of Health should ensure that payments made by the National Health Insurance Authority to all Health Insurance Service Providers are published on a real-time basis.

No more credit to NHIS institutions until debt is settled Pharmacy Chamber

The Chamber of Pharmacy Ghana had in February 2020 announced that it will continue to enforce its decision not to supply medicines on credit to National Health Insurance accredited health facilities.

According to the Chamber, it will only rescind its decision until service providers pay their debts in full.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Anthony Ameka expressed the frustrations they receive from banks they owe.

“If I supply medicines to a facility and every month I am paying interests on loans, you just imagine how much the facilities are owing me,” he lamented.

But he assured that the Chamber will become more flexible “immediately we receive all the monies that the facilities are owing us.”

Source: citinewsroom