The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority Dr. Samuel Yaw Annor has cautioned that illegal fees charged at various health facilities will be brought to a halt.

He added that the Authority will put in measures to ensure members are not short changed. He said this at a consultative meeting with Organized Labour in Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region.

The forum which was under the auspices of Trade Union Congress, is a nationwide programme aimed at soliciting views on an 8-point proposal given to Government for consideration on changing the financing model to make the NHIS more sustainable into the future.

Addressing the meeting Dr. Samuel Annor, CEO of NHIA urged all hospitals to desist from charging unauthorized payments from NHIS members. He said ‘we are doing our best to get a lot more funds into the scheme so that we can pay you more regularly.’ ‘Once the funding is secured we can negotiate better tariffs for all providers so that our members will ultimately be happy and confident to use the cards.’ he stated.

He added that the scheme needed to be equipped financially to enable it work effectively. Some proposals were put before members of the organized labour in that region for deliberations.

Among the proposal is a 1% contribution to be made into the Health Fund as deductions from the monthly salary of workers and government topping up with 2% contribution from SSNIT.

An increment will significantly shore up the finances of the scheme and close the funding gap that has currently bedeviled the scheme.