The Association of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG), is demanding urgent review of the government’s directive requiring health facilities to pay utility bills.
According to the association, the recent shift of responsibility for electricity bill payments from the Central Government to Health Facilities in June 2023 has resulted in severe operational challenges, including instances of disconnection by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The Association stresses the detrimental impact of this transition on the day-to-day operations of health facilities.
AHSAG warned that, unless there is a significant increase in National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) tariffs to offset escalating utility costs, the working capital of these facilities could be severely compromised.
“We note with concern that the offloading of the payment of electricity bills from Central Government to Health Facilities in June 2023 is already having a heavy toll on the operations of the Facilities with reported cases of disconnections from the grid by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).Indications are that the working capital of the Facilities will virtually be wiped out by the utility bills unless there is a substantial increase in the NHIS tariffs to cater for utilities”.
It continued that “AHSAG therefore calls on the Government to urgently review this directive. Alternatively, Health Service Providers should be allowed to re-negotiate realistic tariffs with the National Health Insurance Authority taking into consideration the cost of utilities. We believe that this issue needs urgent intervention by the Government to sustain the operations of Health Facilities”.
These were contained in a communique released following 46th Annual General Conference and Continuing Professional Education by AHSAG held in Abokobi in Greater Accra Region.
The conference was on the theme “Appointment of Hospital Administrators: A new dawn in the Health Administration Profession Towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage”
AHSAG expressed commitment to providing effective leadership, supporting government efforts in addressing challenges to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
“Universal Health Coverage since the Alma Ata Declaration in 1978, several strategies have been adopted to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). We support the concept of Networks of Practice (NoP) as an effective approach towards achieving UHC by 2030. We recognise, however, that formidable challenges exist in the implementation of the NoP concept including inadequate infrastructure, inadequate supply of commodities, and poor administrative and governance systems”
“We commit to provide effective leadership particularly at the hospital level to complement the efforts by government and development partners to ensure more targeted resource allocation and utilisation to Fast Track the achievement of UHC,” the Communique signed by Effah Yeboah, President of the Association indicated.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
