Akomadan (Ash), Feb 11, GNA - Mr Yaw Sarbeng, Acting District Director of Health Services for Offinso North has expressed concern about delays in the refund of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims to health service providers, saying it was crippling the operations of most health facilities.

Speaking at the district's Annual Health Review Meeting at Akumadan, Mr Sarbeng said the situation needed to be reviewed to forestall the collapse of health service providers. For example, he said, the Akumadan Hospital alone was owed GH¢118,677.05 and as such it was finding it difficult to procure drugs and other consumables for its daily operations. Touching on other challenges, Mr Sarbeng said the district with a total population of 80,454 did not have an Accountant, a Public Health Nurse and Secretariat Staff to run its activities and appealed to Government to ratify the situation.

Dr. Philemon Ahiable, Medical Superintendent in-charge of the Akumadan Hospital, said the district recorded no maternal death as a result of the successful implementation of policies instituted by the District Health Management Team. He mentioned the lack of an ambulance as a major problem confronting the district hospital.

Mr. Mathew Baffoe, District Disease Control Officer, on his part called for closer collaboration between all stakeholders in the district to help promote quality health care delivery. Nana Yaa Pokuaa, Queen of Akumadan, commended health workers in the district for their dedication and commitment to duty, which, she said, had helped to improve health care delivery in the area.