Debt owe health service providers by NHIS is stifling access to healthcare as some health facilities request patients to pay for many services rendered them despite being insured.
The situation is discouraging many sick residents predominantly peasant farmers in Kade in the Kwaebibirim district in the Eastern region to seek early healthcare.
“I am very sick but I am reluctant to go to hospital because of money.Now we pay for almost everything when we go to hospital.The insurance is not working properly” a residents complained to the media.
A contractor and businessman, Asomaning Patrick alias Pope has meanwhile initiated community medical outreach program to provide free healthcare at the doorstep of the people of Kade municipality.
“We are not just doing it in Kade.This place is divided into five zones.We have the Kade Zone, Asuom Zone ,Takyiman Zone ,Abamu Zone ,then the Otumi zone” he explained.
Pope who is native of Akyem Otumi in the Kwaebibirim municipality, was impressed with the massive turnout during the maiden exercise.
“Healthcare should be Paramount to every person .so I am so happy to see the aged to come all the way from the villages to come and look at their health because if don’t have time to check your health you will have time to die .That is what I believe in.so I am happy that the team came and then they’ve also turned out in their numbers to check their health to know what is actually worrying them and then the Doctors are there to diagnose and give prescription as to what drug is deem fit for the person”.
He stated that,the 2021 population and housing census puts the population in the municipality at 121,698 with 60,110 males and 61,588 females which majority are farmers with palm oil and cocoa as mainstay which require that they stay healthy to work to make a living.
Lead Medical Doctor in charge of the medical team from Ridge Hospital in Accra , Dr.Frederick Denu said after maiden screening exercise in Kade that, diabetes and malaria were high among the participants screened.
Highlife musician Nana Kwasi Aryeh with stage name Paa Kwasi who is friend to Patrick Asomaning was present to support the exercise.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
