The General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Richard Selormey, says the health facilities that have huge debts with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cannot pay within the three-day grace period given the energy company.
According to him, the facilities do not have the resources to facilitate payment of their bills within the given time frame.
“ECG itself must also tarry carefully because out of the total indebtedness that they have, healthcare only contributes 4.5 per cent of it. This is 261 (million) over the 5.7 billion or something that they are owed,” he said on Joy News. “Why do you want to start from here when there are bigger chunks waiting? This is the coins on top of the GHC5 billion. They need to be realistic. The facilities cannot pay this within the three days that they are saying.”
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He also mentioned that there has to be a discussion on the way forward and suggested the burden-sharing approach if the government is unable to bear the cost.
“They must move away from that 72-hour ultimatum and have realistic discussions so that we all come around the table and have an agreement, let the people of the nation know that healthcare is expensive. If the government cannot bear the cost, let the government be honest enough to admit it and let people know that they must share part of the cost. Or if the NHIS finances can be brought back so that the full amount is sent to NHIS with all these factored into the costing structure, then that should be done,” Dr Selormey added.
The Electricity Company of Ghana on March 13, 2014, served notice to 91 hospitals including the 37 Military Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital giving them 72 hours to settle their debts or pay at least 70 per cent of what they owe ECG lest they suffer disconnection from the power grid.
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