Health facilities in the Asante-Akim South District have complained about claims payment delays by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and say this is crippling their operation.

Mr. Sulley Ringo Naah, Acting District Health Director, said insurance refund to the facilities, including the district hospital, was in arrears for six months, and that this was affecting the quality of healthcare.

He said this was making it simply difficult to replenish medical supplies and stock.

Speaking at the district's annual health performance review at Juaso, he appealed to the NHIA to take urgent steps to settle the arrears to keep the facilities going.

He noted that the situation was being aggravated by the lack of funding from the central government, putting enormous pressure on the meager money they generate internally.

Mr Naah told the meeting that in spite of the financial difficulties, they were working hard to reach out to every part of the district.

He said they had demarcated the entire district into 46 Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) zones, each of which was served by a community health nurse.

He applauded the District Assembly for the support it has been giving to health promotion and development programmes, and pledged to work with all key stakeholders to improve access to healthcare.

He commemded the health professionals for hard work, and urged them to continue to work with passion.

Mr. De-graft Forkuo, the District Chief Executive (DCE), said investing in health infrastructure was the surest way to provide quality healthcare to the people.

He said it was against this background that the Assembly had decided to build two CHPS compounds this year.

He announced that a new clinic under construction at Asuboa was almost completed, and that it would soon be handed over to the Health Directorate.