The Acting of Claims at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIA), Dr. Abigail Nyarko Cudjoe Derkyi-Kwarteng has indicated that treatment for breast cancer is free as its insurance scheme covers it.
Admittedly, she said that patients continue to face significant challenges despite efforts to improve healthcare access through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Mrs. Derkyi-Kwarteng made the comments at a Meena Breast Cancer Foundation (MBCF) press conference on breast cancer that highlighted the ravages of breast cancer and the need to intensify the fight against it.
The programme brought together stakeholders from the NHIA, the Ministry of Health, and the Ridge Hospital’s Oncology Unit.
According to the medical doctor, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments are free but she cannot tell why most service providers continue to bill patients.
“Once a service is covered under the NHIS benefits package, providers are expected to treat patients without charging extra.
I cannot speak for why some providers still charge patients, but we are engaging them to resolve these issues,” she added.
She also expressed worry over the long waiting times at hospitals, limited healthcare machines, mistreatment from caregivers, and financial burden still experienced by patients, even those with active NHIS memberships.
“Women facing health crises, such as breast cancer, find it difficult to uphold their family responsibilities, and no one prays to be in such a situation,” Dr. Derkyi-Kwarteng said, highlighting the emotional and physical toll on patients.
Dr. Abigail Nyarko Cudjoe Derkyi-Kwarteng used the opportunity to urge patients to ask for clarity when they do not understand diagnosis, and prescriptions and demand that they are treated right.
She indicated that the hefty bills borne by patients need to be dealt with through collaborative efforts involving the various stakeholders in the health sector as it is been assumed that the NHIA is solely responsible for these challenges.
“At the end of the day, you’re trapped with a bill, even when you have an active NHIS card. These are serious issues that we cannot ignore. I wish we had all the stakeholders are here so that we can discuss this issue well. We are not the only player in this system. The service providers and the Ministry of Health are also responsible,” she noted.
Dr. Derkyi-Kwarteng assured the breast cancer patients it will keep up with rising inflation and rising costs have made it challenging to keep up with timely payments to healthcare facilities.
“We are working hard to ensure timely reimbursements, but we also need collaboration from the providers to make sure that patients are not charged unnecessarily.”
Dr. Derkyi-Kwarteng reaffirmed the NHIA’s commitment to ensuring equity and social justice in healthcare.
“Health should come at no cost to the patient, and that’s what we strive to achieve at the NHIS,” she concluded.
Executive Director of Meena Breast Cancer Foundation, Ibrahim Kwarteng, made a passionate appeal to the media and government to prioritize breast cancer awareness and treatment with daily efforts to fight it.
He indicated that the high cost of treatment discourages many women from turning up at healthcare facilities. This he said impedes the fight against the disease and therefore government must make interventions that can help reduce the treatment burden on patients.
Mr. Kwarteng urged the media to focus on health issues, particularly breast cancer, rather than predominantly on political stories.
“We are all aware of the media’s addiction to politics and other matters, but health issues should take center stage in our headlines. It’s time the government and all stakeholders take proactive steps to address this growing problem,” he appealed.
Meena Breast Cancer Foundation (MBCF) now targets adolescents to protect their future.
Rudolph Nandi
