By:Thomas Amponsem & tntnewspapergh.com
The Chairman of Ashanti Regional Chapter of Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. FF Specialist Hospital, Mr. Francis Fosu, has commended the government through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for its prompt and timely payment of claims to its members.
According to him, the government is doing well with the payment of NHIS claims to private NHIS hospitals.
Mr. Fosu revealed that the government was not owning any private NHIS hospital as this year’s claims had been paid up to August 2024.
Mr.Francis Fosu, CEO of St.FF Specialist hospital in an interview with Journalists
The CEO disclosed this during the official opening of St. FF Specialist Hospital recently at Danase in the Afigya Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region.
Mr. Fosu said if any private NHIS hospitals hadn’t received theirs, it could be a documentation mistake or a delay by the hospital in submitting its claims for the prepayment.
Official commissioning section
He, however, expressed worry over the rampant harassment by Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) officers on private institutions in the country.
According to him, private institutions contribute a lot to the development of the country. It was, therefore, very worrying the continued harassment on them and their facilities with taxes, especially the newly opened health facilities.
Mr. Fosu is, therefore, proposing to the government to urgently consider giving tax exemptions and tax holidays to newly established private companies as it is done in other countries to accelerate development.
He explained that when these tax exemptions and tax holidays are implemented, it would bring more investors to the country, which would boost employment opportunities for the vibrant youth.
“Why is it that GRA officers are not going to the various forests to tax both legal and illegal miners since they have the money, but rather harassing institutions being established in the interest of the populace?” he asked.
“Even before we start official operations in relation to the licence, GRA had written to me to pay tax and how can this encourage investors if not passion and love for the country!” he added.
Touching on the selection of the community and the district for the facility, Mr. Fosu said it was part of his commitment to support government in bridging the gap of accessibility to quality healthcare by 2030.
St. FF Specialist Hospital is where patients with NHIS card will be provided with free two square meal to be paid by NHIA.
The CEO has announced free NHIS registration for 20,000 residents in the area, as well as renewal of NHIS to subscribers to enable them to access quality healthcare.
The former NHIA Deputy CEO, who is currently the Hiahemaa of the Kokofu Traditional Area, Nana Yaa Achiaa, Mr. Kwadwo Tweneboah Kodua, among other speakers and Nananom of Danase and its environs, could not hide their joy and praises to Mr. Fosu.
They appealed for the collaboration of health personnel posted to the facility and the community to ensure the realisation of the purpose of establishing the facility.
